§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the fact that many ex-service men, who have for many years been continuously in the Civil Service, though the service is technically described as temporary, will retire at 65 years of age on only a few shillings a week as pension and will be ineligible for the old age pension for five years thereafter; and whether he will reconsider the position so as to enable these civil servants to have pensions comparable with the service they have given the State?
§ Captain CrookshankMy right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is aware that an established officer who has previously served in an unestablished1316W capacity as a temporary clerk and whose established service is short may be eligible only for a small pension (plus a lump sum payable on retirement) and that on establishment he ceases to be compulsorily insured for a contributory old age pension at age 65; he can, however, if he chooses remain a voluntary contributor.
As my right hon. Friend stated in his reply of 27th July, 1937, to the hon. Member for the Ince Division (Mr. G. Macdonald), he feels bound to uphold the essential distinction between established and unestablished service, and, as has been repeatedly stated. His Majesty's Government do not feel able to reconsider the existing arrangements.