HC Deb 09 February 1939 vol 343 cc1146-7W
Mr. Gallacher

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Peter Beveridge, Sea View, Torrey-bum, who has been dismissed from the Admiralty depoôt at Crombie at the age of 60 years without pension; that this man is strong, active, and quite fit for the job on which he was employed; and, in view of the Government's policy of giving special attention to the problem of unemployed persons between 45 and 65, will he take steps to have this man re-employed and stop the practice of Admiralty departments adding to this problem?

Mr. Shakespeare

The general rule (which is not peculiar to the Admiralty service) is that no Government employe has the right to be retained beyond the age of 60. In no case is a man retained in Admiralty service beyond the age of 60 unless he can be certified as in all respects fit for further retention, and such retention is considered to be in the interests of the public service. In Beveridge's case his officers were of opinion that this certificate could not properly be given. The Admiralty must necessarily be guided by this opinion.