HC Deb 05 March 1931 vol 249 cc619-20W
Sir P. FORD

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether a civil servant leaving the Civil Service at the request of the Government before reaching the age limit is treated as forfeiting all, or any part of, pension and other cognate rights?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

In the circumstances apparently contemplated in the question, the "other" service would probably be regarded as "approved employment" under the Superannuation Act, 1914. The approved employment would not reckon for pension, but if it came to an end owing to ill-health or the attainment of the age of 60, an award could be made in respect of the previous Civil Service of a pension and allowance not exceeding the pension and allowance which could have been granted had the civil servant retired on the ground of ill-health at the date of taking up the approved employment. No grant, however, could be made if the approved employment came to an end otherwise than on account of ill-health or age, nor would the legal personal representatives be eligible for gratuity if death occurred during the period of approved employment.

Dr. PETERS

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to provide that no person shall be able still to draw a pension from the Exchequer or the rates after taking another position under the State or local authority, and that upon relinquishing such position no person shall be entitled to receive two pensions in respect of the two appointments?

Mr. PETHICK - LAWRENCE

The answer is in the negative. Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, provides that if a Civil Service pensioner is appointed to fill any office in a public Department, his pension shall be suspended or abated, so that he shall receive only so much pension (if any) as is required to make his new salary up to his old salary. There are similar provisions in the Police Pensions Act, 1921, and the Teachers' Superannuation Act, 1925, with regard to the re-employment of police and teacher pensioners. It would not, in my judgment, be possible to extend this arrangement so as to provide for the suspension of a pension earned in one capacity on fresh employment in a quite different capacity. If the second period of service is such as to qualify the officer for pension in respect of it, I can see no reason why he should be debarred from receiving such pension.