§ MR. EUGENE COLLINSasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is the fact that an inequality exists between the position of Army pensioners and Marine pensioners when employed as sergeants on the permanent staff of the Auxiliary Forces; whether Army pensioners can increase their pensions at the rate of one halfpenny per day, for every year of service as sergeants on the permanent staff of Militia Regiments, up to a maximum of eight pence per day in excess of their pensions from service in the Regular Army, whereas Marine pensioners in a similar position derive no such benefit 621 from a similar service; and, whether, in consideration of the recent gallant services of the Marine Forces in Egypt, he will inquire into the subject with a view to placing Marine pensioners on an equality with their comrades in the other branch of Her Majesty's Service?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI have to thank my hon. Friend for calling my attention to the inequality in respect of pension which exists, in the manner stated in his Question, between the Army pensioners and the Marine pensioners on the permanent Staff of the Auxiliary Forces. Some time ago the matter was under the consideration of the Departments concerned, and difficulties were found to exist in the way of any alteration of the present arrangement; but we will inquire into the subject again and see, in consultation with the War Office and Treasury, whether anything ought to be done.