§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked the Secretary of State for War, If it is the intention to promote the Sergeant Instructor in Musketry to the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant, in a similar manner to that adopted in the case of Paymaster and Orderly Room Sergeants, viz. after three years' service in the appointment, or to classify them as prior to the Royal Warrant of July 1881; whether it is the intention to deprive the non-commissioned officers and men now serving of their deferred pay on completing twenty-one years' service, although they enlisted as boys, and had completed twelve years previously to the issue of the Royal Warrant of July 1881; and, whether it is also the intention to deprive them of a halfpenny per diem of their pension for every year served as boys?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONThere is no intention of altering the status of sergeant instructor of musketry from that of colour sergeant which he now holds. He still belongs to the combatant ranks, and has promotion in them to look to. The orderly room 664 sergeant and paymaster sergeant serve under different circumstances, and have no prospect of combatant promotion. It is not contemplated to deprive any class of non-commissioned officers or soldiers of any of their deferred pay. As regards boy service, the effect of recent Regulations is precisely opposite to that implied in the Question. Formerly, service under age did not count in any way towards pension. Now it is allowed to count; but a halfpenny is deducted from the pension for each year under age. Thus, a soldier can now claim a pension, though somewhat reduced, earlier, by the amount of his boy service, than he formerly could; while, if he serves to the time at which he could formerly claim pension, he would retire on an increased pension.