asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will set out the principal features of the superannuation scheme for State industrial workers, under the following headings, assuming a retiring pay of £44, and 40 years service: (i) the gratuity unit per year and maximum gratuity; (ii) the service pension, unit per year and maximum pension; (iii) the gratuity payable at five years and at ten years; (iv) the service pension payable at five years and at ten years; (v) the maximum provision for added service in respect of premature retirement due to ill health; (vi) contributions for service pension; (vii) provisions for widow's pension; (viii) contribution for widow's pension; and (ix) other significant features.
Written Answers. - Industrial Workers Superannuation Scheme.
494.
The information required is as follows:
(i) 3/80th of pensionable remuneration, £2,296.80, for each year of pensionable service; £3,445.20, 1½ times pensionable remuneration.
(ii) 1/80th of the amount by which pensionable remuneration exceeds twice the annual equivalent of the maximum personal weekly rate of old age, contributory, pension under the Social Welfare Acts payable on the last day of pensionable service to a man who has no adult dependant or qualified children, for each year of pensionable service, maximum service pension £389.28, 40/80ths of foregoing amount.
(iii) £430.65; £861.30.
(iv) £48.72; £97.32.
(v) The amount of added service granted on ill-health retirement varies with actual pensionable service. Added service is provided as follows:—(a) members of the scheme with between five and ten years of actual pensionable service at retirement will be allowed an equivalent amount of added service, such amount of added service not to exceed the difference between the member's age at retirement and age 65; (b) members of the scheme with between ten and 20 years of actual pensionable service at retirement will be allowed the more favourable of: (I) an amount of service equal to the difference between actual pensionable service and 20 years, the added service not to exceed the difference between the member's age at retirement and age 65; (II) six years and 243 days, the added service not to exceed the difference between the member's age at retirement and age 65. Members over age 65 at retirement cannot, therefore, benefit under this section; (c) members of the scheme with more than 20 years of actual pensionable service at retirement will be allowed to add whichever is the lesser of six years and 243 days and the difference between their age at retirement and age 65. Members over age 65 at retirement cannot, therefore, benefit under this section.
(vi) there are no contributions, on the part of members of the scheme, for service pension.
(vii) a contributory widow's and children's scheme has been agreed in principle at the Joint Industrial Council for State Industrial Employees. This would provide a widow's pension of one-half of the service pension.
(viii) the contributions under the widow's scheme now being prepared would be: (a) periodic contributions equal to 1½ per cent of the amount by which weekly pay exceeds twice the maximum personal weekly rate of old age, contributory, pension payable to a man who has no adult dependant or qualified children, in respect of pensionable service subsequent to the operative date of the scheme; (b) lump sum contributions equal to 1 per cent of the annual equivalent of the amount by which weekly pay exceeds twice the maximum personal weekly rate of old age, contributory, pension payable from time to time to a man who has no adult dependant or qualified children, in respect of each year of pensionable service for which periodic contributions were not paid; (c) where the pensionable remuneration includes an element other than pay, a lump sum contribution of 1 per cent of that element in respect of each year of reckonable service.
(ix) the significant features of the scheme are set out above. In the case of death in service a gratuity, varying with service from one year's pay to 1½ year's pay, may be paid in respect of the deceased member.