§ 38. Mr. C. Howellasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will have discussions with the British Transport Commission with a view to giving similar increases to the pensions of ex-wages grade employees, as have been given to railway super annuitants.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo, Sir. The scheme of pension supplements recently introduced by the British Transport Commission applies only to pensioners who are not entitled to National Insurance pensions or similar benefits. All or almost all of the pensioned wages grades receive National Insurance benefits in addition to their pensions from the Commission, and for this reason will not qualify for supplements under the scheme.
§ Mr. HowellDoes the Minister not appreciate that, while no one would cavil at an increase for super annuitants in times of stress and rising prices, this kind of thing perpetuates an old-school-tie attitude between former salaried grades, who are super annuitants, and ex-wages grades, who get a maximum of only about 7s.? This ill-feeling between wage and salary grades on the railways which is being perpetuated is likely to retard recruitment.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThat is not quite the case. If the hon. Member will look into the matter carefully, he will see that the astonishing position was occurring in which ex-salaried grades were worse off because of the improvement in the National Insurance pension compared with the very small pension which they originally received. This is a matter of elementary justice for the people concerned.