CAPTAIN VIVIANsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is intended to make the recent regulation whereby cavalry and infantry soldiers are henceforth to serve the same number of years to qualify for pension and for the good conduct medal retrospective in its operation as regards the medal; so as to enable cavalry soldiers of twenty-one years' service to obtain a good conduct medal on the same terms as the infantry soldier, who under the old regulation was entitled to this reward after eighteen years' service; the connection between the period of service required for pension and that required for the medal being purely arbitrary?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTON, in reply, said, he did not quite understand the scope of the hon. and gallant Member's Question; but he thought he should meet the object he had in view by staling that the cavalry and the infantry had been placed on an equal footing as regarded Use pensions and good conduct medals, and that members of both services would be eligible to receive them after eighteen years' service.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONYes.