§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the rise in the cost of living following devaluation, he will give further consideration to the appeal of the British Railways Superannuitants' Federation for supplementary allowances.
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§ Mr. BarnesAs I have informed the House on previous occasions, the superannuation schemes to which the question refers are not solvent and already approximately £2½ million per year is required to meet the deficit. For this reason I have previously refused to intervene in the matter. The statement 1 made in the House on 28th November about the finances of the British Transport Commission indicates that it would not be justifiable to impose an additional burden on them by providing supplementary allowances to existing pensions.