HC Deb 08 April 1943 vol 388 cc808-9
57. Mr. Lipson

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has considered the case sent to him of a temporary established civil servant who, after 12 years of service, received no pension or gratuity on retirement; and, in view of the fact that a woman clerk who was established received, on marriage, after the same years of service, a gratuity of £100, will he review the conditions of service of temporary established civil servants of 10 years standing and over?

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Assheton)

Yes, Sir. The officer in question was an unestablished civil servant and as such was not eligible for pension. As he was retired on age grounds and his service was only 12 years he was also ineligible for a gratuity under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, which requires a minimum service of 15 years in such cases. Marriage gratuities are payable only to established women civil servants, and the conditions of their award are entirely different.

Mr. Lipson

Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that it is a misuse of the English language to describe a man as a temporary employee when he has been in the service for 10 years or more?

Mr. Assheton

It is the hon. Member who used that term; it is not mine.