§ 58. Mr. William Brownasked the Fnancial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the cost of maintaining a person in a Poor Law institution is 28s. a week, he will ensure 330 that no Civil Service pensioner shall be given a pension less than this amount?
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)No, Sir. The Superannuation Acts provide, broadly speaking, for a pension of one-eightieth of retiring pay for each year served, plus a lump sum of three times that amount, the minimum period of service for an award being ten years. His Majesty's Government are not prepared to introduce legislation, which would inevitably react on other pension systems, to modify the Civil Service pension system in the sense suggested by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. BrownIs not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in the last war, before the cost of living had risen to anything like the extent it has done in this war, provision was made for some relief to these poor folk, and does he intend that the present situation should go on indefinitely?
§ Captain CrookshankI understand that this subject is shortly to be raised on the Adjournment by the hon. Member, so that there does not seem any reason for discussing it now.