§ Mr. A. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis he decided that the merits of the case were such as not to allow him to accept the principle that all unestablished service with the Civil Service should count for pension rights; what were the merits or otherwise which received his consideration; and whether he will give an estimate of the costs involved if this principle were adopted by the Treasury.
§ Mr. GreenWhen this service was rendered there was no expectation that it would be allowed to count and I am not convinced that it would be right to improve these conditions of service retrospectively. The total cost would be in the region of £300 million.