§ Mr. NIELDasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the advisability of extending the terms of reference of the Royal Commission now inquiring into the methods of making appointments to the Civil Service, so as to include the consideration of the age limit for retirement; whether there is a universal age limit applicable to all grades of the Civil Service; what that limit is and the Departments to which, if more than one limit, the limit applies, respectively; and are there any officials, and, if so, whom, who are still in active service although beyond the prescribed age limit?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI do not think it would be necessary to extend the existing terms of reference to enable the Royal Commission, if it sees fit, to consider the question of age limit for retirement. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 15 of the Order in Council of 10th January, 1910, any permanent Civil servant may be called upon by the head of his Department to retire at any time after reaching the age of sixty. Retirement is compulsory on attaining sixty-five years of age, but in special cases the Treasury may, at the instance of the head of a Department, extend an officer's employment for a further period not exceeding five years, on being satisfied that such officer's retirement at sixty-five would be detrimental to the interests of the public service. A Return of such cases is presented annually to the House of Commons, the last Return being House of Commons Paper 98 of 1912.