Page 35 - Group Insurance and Retirement Benefit IC 83 E- Book

local government, National Health Service, teachers, public boards, etc. (with the

exception of certain classes of 'operatives', such as miners and rail way men, who are
subject to special risks). There would appear to be no reason why a single unified scheme

(presumably unfunded, for obvious practical reasons) should not extend to all such
classes of public employment. This would ensure uniformity of treatment without the

need for, and the restrictions imposed by, the elaborate interchange arrangements at
present in force or contemplated under numerous sets of interchange rules, etc.

14. Such a unification would remove the many present inconsistencies, of which the

conditions governing payment of transfer values and reckon ability of service may be
cited as examples.

Under all existing regulations, the payment of a transfer value is dependent on there not

having been a disqualifying break of 12 months or more. As between local authorities,
the payment of a transfer value is governed only by the above condition, and is

independent of the return or otherwise of past contributions. The right to reckon past
service, in some form or other, following transfer does not depend on the passage of a

transfer value. As between a local authority and the National Health Service, the payment
of a transfer value is dependent also upon the repayment of any contributions which may

have been returned. Unless a transfer value passes, previous service with the other branch

of public service is completely excluded from reckoning.
As between a local authority and a public board, the position is generally similar to the

preceding interchange; but a still further proviso is proposed, viz. that a transfer value
shall be payable only with the consent of the former employer.

15. The non-contributory nature of the present Civil Service scheme presents a difficulty
as regards its inclusion in a unified system. It is interesting in this connation to note that

the Chorley Committee (set up to advise the government on the general level of

remuneration in higher posts in the Civil Service and kindred matters) included, in their
report issued in February 1949, a recommendation for the urgent and thorough

examination of the question of introducing a contributory system of superannuation,

which, the Committee felt, would have many advantages in facilitating exchange between
the Civil Service and other public employments. A step in this direction has been taken in

the Superannuation Bill, 1949, which provides for a contributory • The Superannuation