§ Mr. John Pageasked the Postmaster-General whether he will give an undertaking that, under the management of the proposed Post Office Corporation, the pension available to existing Post Office workers who elect to retire at 60 years of age will not be any less favourable than that available to a corporation employee who is compulsorily retired at the same age; and if he will give an assurance to his present staff that the pension option at 60 will not be rescinded later.
§ Mr. StonehouseNo. It is quite usual in contributory schemes for immediate pension to be paid to employees who are compulsorily retired and for different terms to be applied to employees retiring voluntarily. I can however give the assurance that the option to go at 60 will stand subject to continuation of the present retiring age in the Civil Service.