HC Deb 17 November 1937 vol 329 cc406-7W
Mr. Walkden

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the total number of permanently employed Government messengers is pensionable; what considerations other than the importance of duties of an individual character and personal medical fitness govern the grant of pensionability; and whether he will consider increasing such proportion?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

Approximately one-seventh of the total messengerial and paper-keeping staffs at present employed in Government Departments are established. Members of the unestablished grades are, however, eligible for promotion to the established grades of messenger and paper-keeper. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Deptford (Mr. W. H. Green) on 8th June last, of which I am sending him a copy.

Mr. David Adams

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the estimated annual cost of the extension of the benefits of establishment to all permanently employed Government messengers?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

The cost would be substantial, but any attempted calculation would have to take into account a variety of factors the effect of which could be only approximately estimated. I regret, therefore, that it is not possible to give a reliable figure for the additional annual expenditure which would be involved.

Mr. David Adams

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the numbers of established and unestablished permanently employed Government messengers over the age of 60 years which is the nominal age of retirement from the Civil Service; and whether such employes usually serve until the age of 65 as it is not possible for the established men to become entitled to a full pension, and as the unestablished men do not become entitled to any pension at all?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

I am obtaining information with regard to the first part of the question and I will communicate further with the hon. Member in due course. No information is available centrally as to the practice of the various Departments as regards the age, within the limits mentioned, at which they commonly require members of the messengerial grades to retire.