HC Deb 15 May 1957 vol 570 cc403-4
62. Dr. King

asked the Minister of Defence if he will take steps to enable officers who are due for compulsory retirement during the next two years under the Government's new defence programme, to obtain other posts during this period without forfeiting benefits which would be theirs if they waited until they were compulsorily retired.

The Minister of Defence (Mr. Duncan Sandys)

The terms of compensation for the officers and other ranks concerned are not yet fully settled; but I can assure the hon. Member that the problem referred to in this Question has not been overlooked.

Dr. King

While thanking the Minister for his sympathetic approach, may I ask him to bear in mind that a number of middle-aged officers face compulsory retirement in the next two years, that it is difficult at that age to get a job, and that if in the intervening time they have a suitable opportunity of getting a post, it seems hard that, because they are being compulsorily retired, they should lose benefits to which they have entitled themselves by their military service?

Mr. Sandys

I entirely recognise that point, and I assure the hon. Member that in settling the terms of compensation it will be taken into account.

Major Legge-Bourke

In welcoming what my right hon. Friend has said, may I ask him to bear in mind that as long ago as the end of the First World War, certain officers were given an assurance that if they retired a little earlier for the convenience of the Service, they would not forfeit any pension rights, but that the Treasury let them down very badly? Will my right hon. Friend ensure that that does not happen again?

Mr. Sandys

I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer fully recognises the honourable obligation—[Interruption.] I am anxious that my hon. Friend who asked the question should be able to hear what I say. I had, perhaps, forgotten, in turning in his direction, that we are living in the electronic age. What I was saying was that I am quite sure that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is fully aware of the honourable obligations which we have towards those men.

Mr. Paget

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that those honourable obligations will not be fulfilled unless he makes the compensation high enough to get the necessary number of voluntary retirements, and that if he does not do that he will have broken faith with those men who are obliged to retire, and thus he will not get new volunteers?

Mr. Sandys

My belief is that we shall get a very substantial number of voluntary retirements for that reason.

Mr. Paget

There are no voluntary retirements.