§ COLONEL ALEXANDERasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that Lieutenant the honourable Archibald Fitzroy George Hay, of the 1st Battalion Black Watch, retired on temporary half-pay shortly before the embarkation of the battalion for active service in Egypt; and, whether, on restoration to full pay a few months ago, he was placed above three subalterns who had served throughout the campaign; and, if so, whether he can assign any reason for the exceptional favour shown to this officer? The hon. and gallant Member added: I must express my deep regret at the form in which this Notice appears on the Paper of the House, for which I am entirely responsible, and for which I recognize that I am very much to blame. I do not impute that Lieutenant Hay went on half-pay to avoid foreign service; on the contrary, I know that such was not the case. I would merely ask why, when he was restored to full pay, he was placed above other officers who had served through the campaign?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, for purposes of exchange and re-appointment from half-pay, lieutenants on the lowest rate of pay are regarded as a distinct class. Consequently, on a lieutenant who went to half-pay from the higher rate of pay—as is the case with Lieutenant Hay, who went on half-pay in Juno of last year—being re-appointed to his regiment, he would come in below all on the higher rate, and above all on the lowest rate. No exceptional favour has been shown to Lieutenant Hay.