§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEasked the Postmaster-General what steps have been taken to safeguard the interests of loyal Post Office officials in Southern Ireland who do not wish to continue to serve under the Irish Free State; and whether in such cases, when officials seek retirement from the Post Office, a certain number of years may be added to their service, in order to enhance their pensions as in the case of the Royal Irish Constabulary?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYArrangements are in hand for facilitating the transfer from Ireland to Great Britain of officers borne on classes common to the whole Civil Service; and in addition efforts will be made to transfer such of the Post Office staff in Southern Ireland as are considered to have special claims to transfer on account of the circumstances of their appointment. No general offer of transfer can, however, be made to the Post Office staff as a whole. The inquiry in the second part of this question should more properly be addressed to the Treasury, but my right hon. Friend asks me to refer the hon. and gallant Member to paragraph 10 of the Treaty scheduled to the Irish Free State Agreement Bill now before this House, which deals with compensation allowances.