§ 37. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements with regard to pensions increase are to be made for retired officers of the London Passenger Transport Board who were previously employed in local government tramway undertakings and do not at the present time receive any pensions increase.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Henry Brooke)I understand that these officers have already had their pensions increased in respect of that part of them which is attributable to service under the local authorities concerned. This was done under Regulations made by the Treasury, at the request of the local authorities, in 1953.
If the Pensions (Increase) Bill becomes law, and if requested by the appropriate pension authorities, the Treasury will be prepared to make regulations permitting increases to be paid corresponding to those of the Bill.
§ Mr. LewisIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have had considerable correspondence with him on this question, and that the London Passenger Transport Board, now the London Transport Executive, is continuously dodging its responsibility? While we appreciate that the Minister will give the Executive this power if it requests it, will he not ask the Executive to do the decent thing and make the approach, so that these pensioners can receive the same benefits as their colleagues who were formerly employed by the various councils?
§ Mr. BrookeI do not think the Treasury should go so far as to interfere between employers and employees or pensioners in a case like this. What the Treasury can do is to make the requisite regulations empowering the pensions increase to be paid if one of the pensions authorities asks for it.
§ Mr. LewisIn view of the fact that the details are not known and of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer from the Transport Executive, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.