asked the Minister for the Public Service if he is aware that due to discrimination against industrial civil servants in the recognition given in respect of pensionable service days, an industrial civil servant's service may be 20 per cent less than that applicable to established civil servants each having worked in service for the same number of days in a period of 40 years, and so on, with a consequential reduction in the gratuity of £742 and a reduction in pension of £2.16 per week on retiring pay of £44; and if it is intended to have this discrimination removed.
Written Answers. - Industrial Civil Servants.
64.
It is assumed that the Deputy's question relates to the sick leave arrangements for established and industrial civil servants. As already indicated in a reply to a parliamentary question on 28th October, 1976 by the Deputy it is a cardinal principle in superannuation, applicable to industrial and established civil servants, that unpaid service, including sick leave without pay, does not reckon for pension purposes. It is not proposed to change this arrangement.