§ 49. Mr. W. J. Brownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now prepared to reopen the case of the age-barred officers in the Civil Service who, although eligible on other grounds, were denied establishment on grounds of age.
§ Sir J. AndersonNo, Sir. This is a very old argument, and I am not prepared at this stage to reopen the decision conveyed on several occasions by my predecessors.
§ Mr. BrownIs the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware that unless this case is reopened, men with anything up to 30 years' service will go out without any pension at the end of their careers?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am perfectly aware that there are a number of hard cases, and I am not going to pretend that I think the arrangements in the past have been entirely satisfactory. I hope we may be able, perhaps, to make better arrangements in the future, but to make new arrangements retrospective is quite another matter.
§ Mr. BrownIn view of the unsatisfactory character of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall take an opportunity of raising this matter on the Adjournment.