I move that the Bill be read a Second Time. Deputies will probably recollect that in November, 1945, the Military Service Pensions Acts were amended to alter the scale of abatement of pensions in association with the amount of money received elsewhere from public funds. When this Connaught Rangers Pensions Bill was originally introduced, the scale of abatement was similar to that in the Military Service Pensions Act. When the recent Act, which I referred to, was introduced, the scale of abatement referred only to the Military Service Pensions Act and I think that it was probably an omission that the Connaught Rangers Pensions Act was not amended on similar lines at that particular time. This Bill which is before us now is to bring the scale of abatement in the Connaught Rangers Act on a par with the scale of abatement in the Military Service Pensions Act. The Bill would be retrospective in effect to the same date as the new scale operating in the Military Service Pensions Amended Bill, namely to the 1st April, 1945. The amount of money retrospectively to be paid under this Bill will amount to £162 and the annual increased money falling on the State arising out of the passage of this Bill will be £50 per annum.
Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Bill, 1948—Second Stage.
Question put and agreed to.
Committee Stage to be taken on Tuesday, 15th June.