HC Deb 28 June 1922 vol 155 cc2082-4W
Mr. W. GRAHAM

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that, when the established male manipulative staff of the Post Office Stamp Section were transferred from the Inland Revenue Department to the General Post Office in 1914, the then Postmaster-General agreed, after persuading the Treasury, that he would confirm the right of officers in the Department of the Controller of Stamps and Stores and Inland Revenue Sub-Department to count for purposes of superannuation their unestablisbed service from the age of 16 if as boys they entered the service in the Stamping Department of the Inland Revenue Department, and from the age of 17 if they entered as boy messengers the Inland Revenue Department through the Civil Service Commission; that one of the first officers to come within the scope of this old arrangement is about to retire, but has been notified that the agreement will not apply, and that he will lose the right of counting several years of his unestablished service; and whether, since this is a breach of faith on the part of either the Post Office or the Treasury, or both, and since the Order of 1918 on which this present decision is based ought not to be made retrospective in the case of officers established prior to that date, he will inquire into the whole matter?

Mr. PEASE

The transfer of the staff of the Stamp Section from the Inland Revenue Department to the Post Office has in no way prejudiced the claims to superannuation of the officers concerned. No decision has yet been given in the case referred to by the hon. Member; and full particulars of the officer's service will be reported to the Treasury, whose function it is to make awards under the Superannuation Acts.