Mr. Astor:

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain employees of local authorities, who have given satisfactory service for as long as 20 years and who would normally receive a superannuation allowance on retirement, are losing all expectation of such an allowance by being transferred to other employment under Regulation 58A; and whether he will take steps to remedy this hardship?

The superannuation rights of an employee of a local authority who ceases to serve the authority in order to undertake war service are preserved by the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1939, and I have recognised as war service for purposes of that Act any employment to which an employee of a local authority is transferred in pursuance of a direction given by the Minister of Labour and National Service under Defence Regulation 58A. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular giving such recognition.

Is the Minister aware that under the Act it is possible that a superannuable person may become non-superannuable because he has taken up Civil Defence duties?

I would like notice of that Question.