Class Vi.

Part of Orders of the Day — Civil Services and Revenue Departments Supplementary Estimate, 1921–22. – in the House of Commons at on 21 February 1922.

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Photo of Viscount  Wolmer Viscount Wolmer , Aldershot

To keep pace; I said, with the increase in the cost of living. The right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ince said there was an obligation on the part of the State to assess the pension on the bonus. With that argument I entirely disagree. I can see no obligation on the part of the State to treat this bonus as an emolument on which pensions should be paid. If the hon. Gentleman can convince me that there was an obligation, that the State had given an undertaking, that these civil servants had entered their profession on an under standing of that sort, I agree that that, would be an entirely different matter. Therefore, the only question that remains is whether these civil servants are entitled to this increased pension as an act of justice. Let me take the instance that the Financial Secretary gave to the House, namely, that of a postman in a provincial town, who at the present moment is receiving a salary of 88s. 6d. a week, and who, if he retires after 40 years' service, under the Government proposals will get a pension of 38s., while, if this Estimate were rejected, he would only get a pension of 20s.