I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many employees recently engaged at Deptford, Chatham, Greenwich, Devonport, and Portsmouth have been discharged through old age; what has been the amount of weekly pension granted to them; whether he is aware that the allowance made to employees discharged through old age is so inadequate that many of the above have been compelled to apply for parochial relief; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in view of the letter and spirit of the House of Commons Resolution of 6th March, 1893.
It is estimated that during the six months ended 30th April last, some fifty established workmen were discharged from the home dockyards on reaching the age of sixty, with an average pension of about £45 a year. Very few dockyard pensioners are in receipt of parochial relief, and these few are men who have been discharged at a considerably earlier age than sixty. It is considered that the Resolution to which the hon. Member refers is being fully adhered to.