§ Mr. Digbyasked the Minister of Transport why the retirement policy of his Department for the general clerical classes does not conform with the practice of other Departments or with the reply to a Parliamentary Question given by the Prime Minister on 19th September, 1950; and whether, pending the negotiations with the National Whitley Council, he will give instructions that notices informing officers of the date of their retirement should be withdrawn.
§ Mr. BarnesI am not aware that the retirement policy of my Department for the general clerical classes differs from that of other Departments where the circumstances are the same. Members of the general clerical class are retained to age 65 provided they are fit and efficient and there is a real need for their services. I cannot go further than this at present as the staff is still being reduced. My Department at the end of the war numbered about 25,000; it is now less than 6,500 and last year there was a decrease of about 600. My present practice has been framed in consultation with representatives of the staff side of the Departmental Whitley Council and in the circumstances I do not see my way to depart from it pending the result of negotiations on the National Whitley Council.