§ Mr. Gowerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to a phased acceptance over a 147W period of years of the claim for the consideration of unestablished service in the Civil Service to count in full for pension purposes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir E. BoyleMy right hon. and learned Friend has, like his predecessor, given this suggestion careful consideration; but he has reached the same conclusion, namely, that any feasible scheme for the gradual introduction of full reckoning would make very little difference to the total cost. For example, a 10-year phasing would save only about £14 million—less than 5 per cent. of the total burden of about £300 million which it is estimated that full reckoning would impose on the Exchequer over the years.
§ Mr. Gowerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the approximate cost of partial acceptance of the claim for the consideration of unestablished service in the Civil Service to count in full for pension purposes by arranging for pre-1949 service to count to the extent of three-quarters instead of one-half as hitherto; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir E. BoyleThe cost of three-quarter reckoning would be half as much as that of full reckoning. It is, of course, the latter which is the subject of the present claim.