asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a considerable number of manual workers employed by mental hospital authorities are due to retire this year; that many of these workers have considerable service to their credit but do not qualify for pension or gratuity under the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, or the Asylum Officers' Superannuation Act, 1909; that they would be entitled to pensions or gratuities under the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956, if the provisions of that Act were extended to mental hospital authorities; whether he now proposes to introduce appropriate amending legislation and, if so, whether in anticipation of such legislation, he will issue a circular to mental hospital authorities to enable them to award pensions or gratuities to retiring servants in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956.
Written Answers. - Pensions and Gratuities for Mental Hospital Workers.
28.
I am not aware that a considerable number of manual workers employed by mental hospital authorities are due to retire this year in circumstances as stated by the Deputy.
I hope to introduce legislation to amend the superannuation provisions applicable to the staffs of district mental hospitals. I have, however, no power to authorise mental hospital authorities to award pensions or gratuities on the lines suggested by the Deputy, in anticipation of this legislation.