Sir F. HALLasked the Postmaster-General if a large number of officials in the Post Office are being retired who have not reached the age of sixty-five, although still fully competent to discharge their duties; if, under the Treasury Regulations, sixty-five is the recognised age for compulsory retirement; if the adoption of this policy involves an immediate heavy charge for retiring allowances and pensions without ony corresponding advantage; and if he will give instructions for sixty-five years to be adhered to as the age for retirement unless strong reasons exist to the contrary?
§ Mr. PEASEIt is the case that certain Post Office officials are being retired before reaching the age of sixty-five. This age is not the recognised age for compulsory retirement, but the maximum age allowed by the Order in Council. Any officer may be called upon to retire on reaching the age of sixty; and, generally speaking, it is found to be in the interests of the service to require men to retire within a year or two after reaching this age. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to adopt sixty-five as the normal retiring age.