Viscountess Astorasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the supplementary pensions of 1886W dockyard workmen retiring since June, 1936, have been based on a bonus raised from 14s. to 18s. 6d. per week, he will consider making a similar adjustment to the supplementary pensions of those who retired prior to June, 1936, who have had no such rise?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LlewellinFor an explanation of the system on which the supplementary pensions of dockyard workmen are assessed, I would refer the Noble Lady to the answer given by my predecessor to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, Central (Mr. Beaumont) on 3rd March, 1937. Men who retired before June, 1936, and on retirement were in receipt of a bonus of more than 14s. have their supplementary pensions increased with any rise of bonus up to a limit fixed by the rate of bonus they received on retirement; but, as explained in the previous answer, the Admiralty have no power to assess these pensions on a higher rate of bonus than was actually received at the time of retirement.