§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Minister for the Civil Service if the Board of British Rail is empowered to raise the rates of existing pensions without the 132W introduction of primary legislation by the Government.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsI have been asked to reply.
Yes. Although the Pensions (Increase) Bill now before Parliament does not apply to railway pensions, the British Railways Board will no doubt have in mind the provisions of the Bill in reaching decisions on railway pensions in the light of the financial resources it judges it can make available for that purpose.