GRANTS TO POOR POLITICIANS

Southland Times, Issue 23389, 22 December 1937, Page 5

GRANTS TO POOR POLITICIANS

HOUSE OF COMMONS PENSIONS PLAN ,

SCHEME FOR COMPULSORY CONTRIBUTIONS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Reecived December 21, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 21. Pensions for members of the House of Commons will be confined to a sufficiently small number of beneficiaries to enable sums of a reasonable amount to be available to former members of long service who are over the age for renewed employment, who have not adequate financial means and who have been recommended by the departmental committee. The committee’s report favours a system of compulsory contributions by all members at a suggested rate of £l2 a year. It is proposed that eligibility be confined to present and future members of 10 years’ service who, except in cases of a breakdown in health before, are 60 years of age at the termination of their membership. The report suggests a pension such as will bring former members’ income from all sources to £l5O a year, and grants to dependents, confined to pensions for the widows, of former members who die while in receipt of the pension. At the same time it is suggested that the body administering the scheme should be allowed discretion to meet cases of hardship.