HC Deb 18 February 1926 vol 191 cc2132-3W
Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why, seeing that established men's pensions are under the terms of the Superannuation Acts calculated on the annual salary and emoluments of their office, the Admiralty base these pensions on the pay actually received by established men rather than on the higher scale of pay which the hired men receive for performing similar work in the same office?

Mr. DAVIDSON

These pensions are awarded by the Treasury under the powers conferred upon that Department by the Superannuation Acts. The pay actually received constitutes the salary and emoluments of the office, and in this connection I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to Section 2 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, and Section 12 of the Superannuation Act, 1834.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the answers to petitions from dockyard employés, 1914, the Admiralty stated that the rates of wages of established workmen and of other civil servants take into account that the service is a pensionable one; whether the Admiralty has considered this statement in relation to its more recent statement, and that it is not correct to say that the deductions from established men's wages are not made towards their superannuation allowance; and whether he will consider putting the pay of established men oil the higher level enjoyed by hired men and increase their pensions accordingly?

Mr. DAVIDSON

The statements referred to are in no way contradictory; the differences between the rates of wages for hired men and established men do not constitute deductions from the rates of wages of the latter. I regret that I am unable to adopt the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in order to relieve the congestion and difficulties consequent on the closing of the dockyards, he can see his way to seek some modification of that part of the Superannuation Acts which provide that an employé in order to obtain a pension must be discharged on account of age, infirmity, or abolition of office, so that those who might be desirous of seeking other employment or going abroad may receive their accrued pensions to date?

Mr. DAVIDSON

I regret that I am unable to add anything to my reply of the 2nd December last (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 2261), except that it has been arranged that established workmen at Rosyth and Pembroke Dockyards who become redundant to requirements may, if they so desire, and subject to certain conditions, be discharged on abolition of office, instead of being transferred to other dockyards.

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