Derek McDowell (Labour)

I wish to raise a point which is a little less arcane than some of the points we discussed earlier. This section gives a facility to people to remain at work beyond the age of 65 years if they choose to do so. It is not clear that this is exactly the case but that is how I read it. However, it then restricts that facility to new entrants. It does not apply to anybody who is currently in the Civil Service.

We accept the principle that one does not unilaterally change people's terms of employment to their disadvantage. However, this facility is being offered to new entrants and it seems reasonable that it should be offered to existing workers in the public service, many of whom might like to continue working beyond the age of 65 years. There is no logic in saying that people who are currently working in the public service and Civil Service who wish to stay working beyond the age of 65 may not do so simply because of the date on which they were first employed but that people employed after 1 April next can do so. I urge the Minister to give serious thought to extending this facility to existing public servants.