§ 43. Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Health what advice he has received from the National Joint Advisory Council on the preservation of pension rights of married women doctors who leave superannuable employment in the National Health Service on account of pregnancy or for other domestic reasons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonNone, Sir. But the report of a Committee of the Council on preservation of pension rights generally is under consideration.
§ Mr. HooleyWill my right hon. Friend try to secure some rapid advance in this respect? Does he not agree that it is a rather silly anomaly that a married woman doctor should have to put in just one week's service in a period of twelve months in order to preserve her pension rights? Could not something be done about this?
§ Mr. RobinsonI have said that I am looking into the specific problems of the preservation of pension rights of married women in the National Health Service, but I have no evidence that this problem of disqualifying breaks in superannuation rights is a deterrent to the re-employment of married women doctors. Nevertheless, I am looking into it.