§ Mr. Gammansasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the reason for the differential treatment accorded to General Post Office employees now eligible for establishment, whereby in the case of men who come under the scheme agreed with the committee of the Civil Service National Whitley Council on the establishment of unestablished classes the candidate must have been born on or after 25th June, 1882, whilst under the scheme of establishment of Government industrial employees the date is 16th January, 1884; and if he will take steps to remove this anomaly.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThe general policy governing the age limits for establishment in the Civil Service derives from an Order-in-Council of 10th January, 1910, under which, apart from very exceptional individual cases, established civil servants must retire on reaching the age of 65, though they may continue to be employed in an unestablished capacity. It follows from this that establishment after the age of 65 is normally impossible.
The Civil Service National Whitley Council agreement covering the Post Office staff referred to was signed in June, 1947, and, as for some of the grades concerned some of the necessary preparatory work had already been done and as the process of establishment was expected to be a quick one, it was decided that for 256W those grades officers under 65 at the date of the agreement should be eligible: hence for them the governing date of 25th June, 1882.
In fact, the quick completion of the arrangements involved in this decision proved impracticable and in reaching the January, 1948, agreement on the establishment of industrial employees, involving the selection and certification of nearly 100,000 staff, it was decided that more margin of time must be allowed: hence the governing date of the 16th January, 1884. These latter arrangements are consistent with general policy and were agreed with the appropriate staff representatives. In the circumstances I propose to take no steps to alter them.