§ Mr. FIELDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether an appeal has been made to the Board of Agriculture asking that the terms of the recent pension scheme should apply to all labourers employed on the Ordnance Survey, including Ireland; whether it was represented in such appeal that the labourers were willing to contribute out of their present meagre wages towards pension; whether, before the matter receives consideration, the labourers as a body or individually will be allowed to express their views in the case; and, if such a pension scheme were ratified by the Treasury, would civil assistants be allowed to reckon their labourer's service towards pension?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYA petition of the nature mentioned was received on the 18th ult., and it is now under consideration. It purported to represent the wishes of the labourers generally. If this is not the case the Board would be glad to receive any representations which the dissentients may wish to make. The question to which the hon. Member refers in the last part of his question will be kept in view.