HC Deb 25 May 1972 vol 837 cc481-2W
Mr. Rankin

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why judicial pensions are to be administered in future from Her Majesty's Treasury Office in Surbiton, Surrey, and not by the Exchequer Office in Edinburgh as at present; and what further changes of a similar nature are in prospect.

Mr. Nott

Payment of salaries and pensions chargeable on the Consolidated Fund has been concentrated in the Treasury branch at Surbiton because it is more economical and efficient than the previous arrangements.

Similarly, payment of certain pensions chargeable to Votes at present undertaken by the Exchequer Office is to be transferred to the Paymaster-General's Office at Crawley later this year.

The amount of work transferred from the Exchequer Office in Edinburgh for each of these reasons is, however, negligible.

The hon. Member may care to know that for simlar reasons payment of pensions to Scottish teachers, much of which was previously dealt with in London, was concentrated in Edinburgh three years ago.