§ 45. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that most large and progressive organisations operate a pension scheme for their staffs and employees and that all local authorities, State authorities and civil servants have a pension scheme, whether he will take steps to introduce a pension scheme for hon. Members of Parliament or associate them with the Civil Service Superannuation Scheme.
§ Mr. MaudlingNo. The Members Fund exists to provide financial assistance where needed to hon. Members who have retired from service to this House.
§ Mr. A. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that hon. Members of Parliament representing constituencies in the local telephone call area can telephone their constituencies without charge, Whereas hon. Members outside this area when telephoning their constituencies on parliamentary business have to pay the costs of such calls; and whether he will arrange for these latter calls to be made free of charge.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe arrangement for free telephone calls from the House applies to all local calls made by Members. It would not be desirable to extend the present arrangement, and the possibility has been rejected by successive Select Committees.