§ Sir OWEN PHILIPPSasked the Postmaster-General whether it is the case that postmen who retired from the postal service before the War have not received any increase in the amount of their pensions, whilst the postal servants pensioned after March, 1915, are awarded an increase of 25 per cent. on their pensions; and, if so, whether, looking to the great difficulty experienced by those postmen whose pensions have not been augmented in meeting the present high cost of living, he has in contemplation the extension to all retired postmen of the enhanced rate of pension applicable to postal servants who retired after March, 1915?
§ Mr. BALDWINAs was fully stated by my right hon. Friend in his reply of 16th April last to the hon. Member for the Devonport Division, the existing arrangements with regard to the reckoning within certain limits of war bonus for pension do not apply to pensioners who were not in receipt of war bonus at the time of their retirement. His Majesty's Government are not prepared to depart from the previous decision, which was reached after very full consideration.