Clause 24 - Attorney general
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill
5:45 pm
Mr Tony McWalter (Hemel Hempstead, Labour/Co-operative)
I urge the hon. Gentleman to think carefully about what he is doing, because there are many different dimensions to the matter. Having a
retirement age for a post that is held for a definite time, such as that of a Member of Parliament where the electorate decide, or the post under discussion, is different from the issue of having of general retirement age. I am basically in favour of a general retirement age, although I believe that people should have rights, when they reach that stage, that they do not currently enjoy.
The argument is becoming complicated and I am worried that, because there are many different positions, if the hon. Gentleman were to press his amendment it would not succeed. We would then lose the benefit of the review of the problem that the Minister has promised us. Like my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South, I urge the hon. Gentleman to accept what we have gained so far and see whether we can run with it at the next step.