§ Sir W. SUGDENasked the Minister of Health what numbers of men are compulsorily retired from their employment by the various railway companies in Great Britain at 65 years of age on their receipt of old age pensions; and what arrangement exists between his Department and the Ministry of Labour as to future employment where the man concerned is able to work and his home responsibilities necessitate his so doing?
Sir H. YOUNGAs regards the first part of the question, an old age pension at age 65 is payable whether or not the recipient continues at work after that age and I have, therefore, no information with regard to the number of railway employés compulsorily retired on receipt of their old age pensions. As regards the second part of the question, 903W employés of railway companies are in this matter in no different position from that of other insured persons and, accordingly, the question of making a special arrangement of the kind suggested has not arisen.