§ MR. COBBOLDasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is a fact that supplementary clerks in the War Office will not be allowed to retire under the proposed new scheme for the reorganization of that office; and, whether it is true that clerks of that class who, before 1871 were termed registry and temporary clerks, were allowed to retire on the re-organization of the office in 1870, and that two men in that class did avail themselves of the privilege?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYTwo, not four, clerks of this class were allowed to retire on the abolition of the office in 1871. Their retirement was allowed because the transfer of the work connected with stores and clothing to Woolwich and Pimlico necessitated a reduction of numbers in the branch in which they were employed. No retirements of clerks in this class were allowed where the vacancies so caused would have had to be filled up. It is a fact that no clerks of this class will be allowed to retire under the new scheme, because a considerable extra expense would there by be caused.