§ Mr. Medlandasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware of the long delay in payment of retirement pensions to dockyard employees, and, having regard to the fact that each person is inter viewed and particulars verified three months prior to retirement, will he have the initial payment speeded up.
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§ Mr. AlexanderOwing to contraction of Departments, there has been a great pres sure of work upon the staffs, both at the Establishments and at the Admiralty, who deal with pensions and other payments under the Superannuation Acts. I regret this has resulted in an accumulation of cases and some delay in determining the amounts of the payments due and in issuing the necessary instructions. Steps have already been taken to meet the situation, and in order to prevent hardship, directions have been given to make advances to the persons concerned, pending the full settlement of their cases.