§ Mr. WILKIEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, having regard to the fact that a number of pensioners, including shipwrights and others, have given their services to the Admiralty during the period of the War, and in view of the increased cost of living, he will consider the advisability of increasing their pensions on a basis of rates of pay now prevailing, including war wages and the 12½ per cent.?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe pensioners in question are in receipt of the maximum awards for which they are eligible under the Superannuation Acts, and the Admiralty have no power to vary the awards.
§ Mr. WILKIEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, in view of the loyal services rendered by all classes of men in His Majesty's dockyards during the period of the War, he will consider the advisability of those men who are now going out of His Majesty's dockyards on pensions that such pensions should be based not on the pre-war standard but on the rate of wages now prevailing, including the war wages, and the 12½ per cent.?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI must refer my hon. Friend to the statement respecting, the pensions of Civil servants who have been in receipt of war bonus which was 55W circulated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the OFFICIAL REPORT for the 16th April, 1919, columns 2895–2896.
§ Mr. WILKIEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that a number of men who entered His Majesty's dockyards since the commencement of the War were deprived of their pensions in return for the services rendered during the period of such service; and if he will consider how far some recognition can be given to such men for such period of service?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe men in question have been re-employed at a hired rate -of pay with overtime and war bonus, and, as their earnings 'have exceeded those upon which their premises were assessed, the concurrent payment of their pensions is precluded by Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834. The Admiralty have no power to vary the rule laid down by the Act.