§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware that the Army Pensions office at Stanmore has reduced an industrial civil servant's pension by 4d. a year because he missed his last day at work before retirement; whether similar action would require to be taken under the regulations in the case of a non-industrial civil servant in his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BoydenThe industrial civil servant in question completed thirteen years' service on 6th December, 1966. As, however, he had expressed a wish to retire "at about 7th December" it was assumed that he intended that day to be his last day of service and his pension was assessed on that basis, to be payable from 8th December.
He did not apply for leave of absence on 7th December, but before leaving work on 6th he made arrangements for handing in his tools which made it clear that he did not intend to return. It was therefore concluded that he had intended that 6th December should be his last day of duty. As he could not get pay for 7th December it was necessary to change the arrangements so that he could have his pension for that day. This was done, but in accordance with the provisions of the Superannuation Acts (which apply to industrial and non-industrial civil servants alike) the rate of pension had to be slightly adjusted.