HC Deb 09 December 1968 vol 775 cc8-9
50. Mr. Henig

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a general direction to ensure that employees of British Waterways have the same rights as employees of British Railways in the event of retirement through ill health.

Mr. Carmichael

No, Sir. But if my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind and will send me details I will ask the Board to look into it.

Mr. Henig

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. The British Waterways Board has looked into it. But is my hon. Friend not appalled, as I was, to find that a constituent of mine who, after many years of good service with the British Waterways Board, when he became ill and fit only for light work, was dismissed and given an insulting pension of 7s. 6d. a week? Is it not about time that the nationalised industry did better than that?

Mr. Carmichael

As my hon. Friend knows, there have been discussions within British Railways about the various staff pension schemes. It depends which scheme the members happen to have been involved in while working with the Railways or which particular Railways Board the Waterways Board came under. I agree that the pension is small, but it was agreed on a contributory basis.