§ CAPTAIN O'SHEAasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, under the reorganisation scheme, general officers who are in receipt of distinguished service pensions will lose them on compulsory retirement, and will retain no advantage over officers who have not received those rewards?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, in reply to my hon. Friend I have to remind him that, under the present system, a general officer, on appointment to the colonelcy of a regiment, is obliged to give up his good-service reward; and I see no reason why he should not do so when, under the new system, he is retired on a pension. I could not consent to make so great an addition to the charge for general officers as my hon. Friend's suggestion would involve. I may remind him that all present general officers will be allowed the option of the present or the future system in respect of half-pay and retired pay.