§ Mr. Tileyasked the Minister of Health what decision he has reached upon the representations made to him against the proposal to withdraw the right of Health Service staffs to receive interest when their superannuation contributions are returned to them on voluntary resignation from the service.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided that this proposal shall be applied only to staff who 127W join after the date upon which the new arrangements come into operation, and that staff in post before that date shall retain their present right to interest. Provision to this effect will be included in the draft amending regulations which will shortly be laid before Parliament and which will need to be approved by resolution of each House. This decision means that, on this occasion, none of the deficit revealed in the National Health Service Superannuation Schemes by the first valuation will be met by the staffs and makes the arrangements for meeting the deficit as generous as they could be. If in future any further adjustments were to become necessary to meet actuarial deficits which might arise, it must not be assumed that the pattern followed this time in making adjustments would necessarily be followed again.