HC Deb 03 June 1937 vol 324 cc1174-5
4. Mr. T. Smith

(forMr. E. Dunn) asked the Minister of Labour what assurances, if any, have been given to the temporary clerks whose services have now been made permanent in his Department, whereby this temporary service is counted for pension or superannuation purposes as and when such persons become of pensionable age?

Mr. E. Brown

The arrangements in regard to the counting for superannuation purposes of the unestablished service of temporary clerks appointed to the "S" Class in recent years, in the Ministry of Labour as in other Government Departments, are set out in the reports of the Temporary Staffs Committee of the National Whitley Council of 1932 and 1934. Under these arrangements one-half of such unestablished service rendered after 1st June, 1927, and prior to the date of establishment, is reckoned for superannuation purposes, subject to detailed regulations regarding the reckoning of periods of discontinuous service.

5. Mr. Smith

(forMr. Dunn) asked the Minister of Labour what considerations, if any, have led to the exclusion of employès in his Department from superannuation on account of age; what is the age limit whereupon an employè is barred for superannuation; and what account does he propose to take in future of such persons' temporary service?

Mr. Brown

The general Civil Service rule is applied, namely, that officers cannot be placed on the establishment if their age (after allowance for any period of unestablished service reckonable for pension) exceeds 50 years. Unestablished employès are eligible on retirement provided their service is of sufficient duration, for the gratuities provided by the Superannuation Act, 1887, for unestablished personnel.

6. Mr. Smith

(forMr. Dunn) asked the Minister of Labour whether, under the superannuation scheme of the Ministry, employès in his Department are compelled to retire at 65 years of age; and, if not, upon what terms employès continue?

Mr. Brown

In the Ministry of Labour, as in the Civil Service generally, officers may be required to retire on grounds of age on reaching the age of 60 or any time thereafter, and cannot be retained, save in exceptional circumstances, beyond 65.