§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will ensure that, in the light of the fact that public servants are drawing several indexed pensions and part-time and full-time salaries for public appointments, all such persons retire completely when on pension or give up their pensions when appointed to Government appointments on a full or part-time paid on expenses reimbursement basis.
§ Mr. ChannonNo. As my right. hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in her reply to the hon. Member on 5 December 1980 the Government will continue to make appointments to public bodies on the basis of a person's suitability for the appointment. It would not be in the national interest to waste the considerable experience and expertise acquired by public servants during their careers by barring them from further public service on retirement. There are abatement arrangements for those in receipt of pensions from public funds as explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 1 April 1980. — [Vol. 982, c. 131–132].