§ Sir N. Grattan-Doyleasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the increasing number of ex-service men in the Civil Service who are approaching the age of retirement but will have no pensions on retirement; and whether, with a view to preventing hardship and distress, the rule requiring retirement at the age of 65 years can be relaxed in respect of this class?
§ Captain WallaceThe general position is that the Head of a Department may call upon an officer serving in his Department to retire at any time after reaching the age of 60; retirement is compulsory on reaching the age of 65. Experience has shown that it would not be in the interests628W of the Service to depart from this arrangement and I regret therefore that I am unable to agree to the modification suggested.