§ Considered in Committee [Progress, 10th March].
§ [Major MILNER in the Chair]
§
Question again proposed,
That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to make provision with respect to the termination of His Majesty's jurisdiction in Palestine, and for purposes connected therewith, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any increase attributable to the provisions of the said Act in the sums which are so payable under any enactment relating to superannuation.
§ 9.36 p.m.
§ Mr. Manningham-Buller (Daventry)Before we pass this Resolution we ought to have some explanation from the Financial Secretary of the manner in which these funds are intended to be applied, and some indication of the total sum likely to be involved. If one looks at the Palestine Bill one sees that it contains no indication of what is proposed to be done with the money. It merely provides, in Clause 3, that
His Majesty may by Order in Council make provision—(b) for applying any enactment relating to supervision, …I think that the Committee is entitled to know before passing from this Resolution what sum or approximate sum is intended to be used for the purpose of supplementing the superannuation under any existing enactment, and, if the right hon. Gentleman can give it, some indication of the manner in which that sum will be expended. At the present moment, although we have had the Second Reading of the Palestine Bill, there is nothing to indicate the manner in which the sum which this Committee is now being asked 1819 to vote by the Money Resolution will be applied.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Glenvil Hall)I think that I can satisfy the hon. and learned Gentleman without much trouble. Clause 3 (4b) is the only Clause under which any charge might be imposed on the Exchequer under this Bill. I am sorry that I am unable to tell the House what charge may be raised under this Resolution in connection with the Bill when it becomes an Act, but we hope that it will not be a great deal. As the Committee will know, under the Bill officers serving in Palestine will cease to occupy those offices on and from 15th May, and it may well be that some of them will go to other services, possibly the Colonial Service.
Under some of the Superannuation Acts, unless there is continuity of service that period cannot count for a gratuity. All we visualise is that if any of the officers do go on and, for example, become governors, we shall be able by Order in Council to say that continuity of service is reserved to those officials. I am positive that that object will commend itself to right hon. and hon. Members opposite as much as it does to my hon. Friends behind me. That is the only possible expenditure that we visualise under this Resolution. I hope that, with that brief explanation, the hon. and learned Gentleman and the Committee will let us have the Money Resolution.
§ Mr. Manningham-BullerI should like to thank the right hon. Gentleman for his explanation, but it is clear—and he will correct me if I am wrong—that there is, in fact, under this Resolution no limit to the money which can be applied to this purpose. He says he hopes that the money involved will not be a great deal. We on this side of the Committee hope that it will be possible to find those whose employment terminates on 15th May, satisfactory employment in a short period of time. At the same time, we should be satisfied to know—although I do not think we can get it tonight—that ample provision is being made for those who suffer a long interval of unemployment and also for those for whom it will not be possible to find other employment. In view of what the right hon. Gentleman has said there is no need to spend more time in discussing this Financial Resolution.
§ Resolution to be reported Tomorrow.