§ MR. P. A. TAYLORasked the Financial Secretary of the War Department, Whether it is a fact that all soldiers in the Royal Artillery are entitled after twenty-one years' service, if they have never been tried by Court Martial, to a good conduct medal and a gratuity of five pounds, and that an intimation to this effect is read out to the men on muster days; and, whether he is aware that under such conditions an application for the gratuity has been refused on the ground that there are no funds available for the purpose?
CAPTAIN VIVIANSir, no order of the nature referred to in the Question of my hon. Friend is read to the men of the Royal Artillery on muster or any other days. The only orders on this subject read to the regiment are those contained in the General Regulations and Orders for the Army, by which soldiers, who have duly qualified as regards service and character, may, at the discretion of their commanding officer, be awarded medals with gratuity, subject to the limit laid down by Article 896 of the Pay Warrant. That article limits the amount to £40 per 900 rank and file. I may remark that in the Royal Artillery, 904 to their great credit, the number of men qualified for this reward greatly exceeds the number who obtain it, owing to the limit as to money to which I have referred.