HC Deb 07 March 1956 vol 549 cc2099-100
39. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will take steps to increase the pensions of railway superannuitants and pensioners on a scale equivalent to the increases announced for other public servants.

40. Mr. Farey-Jones

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the broad principles embodied in the proposed Pensions Increase Bill, he will now use his powers under Section 98 of the Transport Act, 1947, to amend the pensions of railway employees who were retired prior to nationalisation.

42. Mr. H. Hynd

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he can yet make a statement about his discussions with the British Transport Commission on the subject of railway superannuitants.

The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Harold Watkinson)

My discussions with the Commission about further assistance to retired staff are not yet complete but I will make a statement as soon as I can.

Mr. Brockway

I wish to express my appreciation of that Answer and the letter which I received earlier from the right hon. Gentleman. May I ask him whether he will do his best to speed up a decision on this matter, and to date any increase in pension from the time that public servants receive an increase, in view of the dire necessity of many of these people?

Mr. Watkinson

I hope that we are getting nearer a solution of this very difficult problem.

Mr. Hynd

Can the Minister say whether the talks he has mentioned cover members of the voluntary railway pension funds and people who were not members of pension funds as well as railway superannuitants?

Mr. Watkinson

I could not answer that question without notice.

44. Dr. D. Johnson

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total numbers of railway superannuitants; and what would be the annual cost of increasing their pensions to an extent commensurate with the increases given to other public servants by successive Acts since 1944.

Mr. Watkinson

I am informed by the British Transport Commission that there are approximately 33,000 superannuitants of the main line railway, railway clearing system and London Transport salaried staff superannuation funds. I understand that the annual cost of applying the terms of the Pensions (Increases) Acts, 1944–52, as proposed to be amended by the Bill now before the House, would amount to about £2 million.

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