PENSIONS FOR M.F.'S

Evening Post, Volume CCXV, Issue 13, 17 January 1938, Page 7

PENSIONS FOR M.F.'S

BRITISH COMMITTEE'S PLAN

A fund to provide pensions for exM.P.S of long service is "both practical and suited to the very special circumstances." This declaration is made in the re* port of the Departmental Committe* on Pensions for M.P.s, issued as. 3 White Paper, says "the "Daily Telegraph and Morning Post," . The pension, the Committee suggests, should be the amount required to bring the income of the ex-member up to £150 a year. Widows of "exmembers who die while in receipt' of a pension should be eligible for a sum to bring the income up to £75. About 18 awards to ex-members or their widows would be available during each Parliament if the full' pension were needed in each case. • The cost of this fund, it is stated, should be met by compulsory contri^ butions of £12 a year from members. A deduction of £1 a month on salaries would be generally acceptable. With a House of 615 members an income of about £7000 a year would be provided.

THOSE ELIGIBLE.

The Committee suggests that only members who have had considerable Parliamentary experience—for example, ten years—arid who, except' in cases of breakdown of health, are over 60 at the termination of service, should be eligible for a pension! To manage the fund it is suggested that there should be a permanent "custodian trustee," and a number of managing trustees—M.P.s. Analysing the return of M.P.s the Committee says that during the 13J years under review there had been 1438 members, of whom 222 had been in the House for eleven years or more. . . The Committee, appointed by the Prime Minister last July, consisted of Sir Warren Fisher, chairman, Mr. a. S. W. Epps. Sir H. E. Fass, Sir Jame| Hae, and Mr, J. H. McCutcheon^Cuaig, secretary. ■?