Captain BENNasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that civil servants who retired before, the new rates of pay were established in 1917 are drawing pensions on a lower scale than those who retired after this date; and whether, in making pro- 51W posals for the increase of civil servants' pension, he is giving consideration to the position of those who retired before the date in question?
Mr. GRAHAMCivil servants who retired before the grant of pensionable war bonus are drawing pensions of lower amounts than comparable officers who retired at a later date, because the pensionable salary and emoluments of tilt, former were, in fact, lower than those of the latter at the time of retirement, and, under the provisions of the Superannuation Acts, Civil Service pensions are related to pay and cannot be awarded on a total pensionable remuneration in excess of that actually drawn before retirement. As regards pensions, however, which fall within the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, the difference between the pensions in the two cases referred to is offset by the provision in Part II to the schedule of that Act under which officers who retired without pensionable war bonus would normally receive a larger increase than civil servants who retired afterwards. As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, it is now proposed, under the terms of the Financial Resolution, of which notice has been given, to augment still further pensions, not exceeding £100 a year, to which that Act applies.