§ 54. Mr. Norman Bowerasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, if he is aware of the hardship caused by the fact that civil servants who resign their posts after a number of years' service for reasons other than marriage, in the case of women, are not entitled to any gratuity; and if he will now amend the present regulations so as to permit gratuities to be paid on resignation in suitable cases.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallNo, Sir. For reasons which I have already explained to the hon. Member, the existing practice must continue.
§ Mr. BowerIs it not a fact that Civil Service salaries are based to some extent on the expectation of a gratuity or pension at the end of service and, if that is so, is it not unfair that civil servants should receive nothing at all after serving for many years?
§ Mr. Glenvil HallIf they serve the requisite number of years, they get a pension. We have to lay down regulations and they are well known to people when they go into the Civil Service. If this suggestion were acceded to, it would need legislation to put it into effect.
§ Mr. W. J. BrownIs not the Minister aware that the present practice under which a man who resigns forfeits all claim to pension in respect of the years he has put in has the effect of keeping a lot of square pegs in round holes, and also that it makes it practically impossible for the head of a Department to dismiss anybody, however much he ought to be dismissed? Is not this a matter that ought to be reconsidered?
§ Mr. Glenvil HallIt is hardly a matter that can be considered by way of question and answer in this way.