§ Mr. Lawasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of civil servants with more than 10 years' established service who resigned their posts in 1945–46 for reasons other than those of ill-health; the number of such persons who were granted pensions and on what grounds and, in the case of those to whom no pensions were granted, the reason for refusing this benefit; and whether it is his intention to grant pensions in all cases of retirement before the full 40 years have been served, having in mind the superannuation contributions already made by such civil servants.
§ Mr. DaltonBroadly speaking, the Superannuation Acts only permit the award of pension to established civil servants when they retire—
- (a) after reaching the normal retiring age 01 60 (55 for certain prison officers, etc.):
- (b) through ill-health;
- (c) on abolition of office (Section 7 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, and Section 6 of the Superannuation Act, 1909);
- (d) through inability to discharge efficiently the duties of their office (Section 2 of the Superannuation Act 1887).
The number of established civil servants, who retired in the calendar year 1946 for reasons other than ill-health and were awarded a pension, is approximately 6,700. Figures for the year 1945–46 are not readily available. Statistics of those who retired without pension could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of labour. The Civil Service pension scheme is non-contributory. I do not propose to amend the present statutory conditions governing the award of pension.