asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider amending the law to provide that when a local authority dismisses an employee of more than five years' service for reasons not connected with misconduct, the employee will be entitled to the local authority's share of his superannuation fund, irrespective of whether or not his subsequent employment is in local government service.

The existing law provides for the return of the employee's contributions only, if his superannuation rights are not preserved on subsequent employment. It has not been represented to me that this is inequitable.

Does the Minister think it fair that a council should be able to get rid of its responsibilities for providing for an employee's old age by pushing him out when he has served the council for some considerable time?

I am stating what is the law—what this House has determined. The employees' organisations have not made any representations to me on the matter.