§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a letter has been received from the Congested Districts Board, Ireland, asking that a conference should take place between representatives of the Treasury, the Irish Government, and die Congested Districts Board to arrange the details of a pension scheme for the staff of the Congested Districts Board; whether he is aware that the Irish Government have supported the application of the Board; and whether, having regard to the united recommendation of these two responsible Departments, he will state the date of the proposed conference and give the names of the representatives of the respective bodies who will attend?
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§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. The suggested scheme does not provide for the setting aside from the Board's funds of an annual sum sufficient to meet the prospective charges for superannuation. The Treasury have indicated that such provision is an essential feature of a satisfactory scheme, and unless the Board are prepared to accept this condition no useful purpose would be served by the proposed conference.