§ Mr. Finchasked the Minister of Labour why, having regard to the declared policy of the Government to retain civil servants in their employ after reaching 60 years of age, a number of their older officers in his Department in South Wales are now being compelled to terminate their services.
§ Sir W. MoncktonOfficers in my Department are not retired simply because they have reached a particular age. It is our practice to retain the services of officers so long as they remain fit and efficient and there is work for them to do. There is, however, considerable redundancy in my Department at present and, in these circumstances, it is necessary to make reductions in our staff. Established officers who are already over the minimum pensionable age will obviously have to go before younger established officers. This is in no way at variance with Government policy.