HC Deb 08 September 1887 vol 320 cc1652-3
MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, by paragraph 489b of the Royal Warrant of the 10th June, 1884, the Head Masters of the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea, and of the Royal Hibernian Military School, Dublin, are to receive £250 per annum on appointment, rising by quinquennial increments of £25 to £350, so that after 20 years' service they should reach the maximum; whether, by the same Warrant, the second and third masters of the Royal Hibernian Military School are to receive £150 on appointment, with biennial increments of £5 to 180, so that after 12 years' service the maximum should be reached; whether the paragraph mentioned was inserted at the instance of Lord Morley's Committee in 1872, to remedy the anomalies and grievances then existing; whether the Head Master of the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea, has got the full benefit of the Warrant, while the Head Master of the Royal Hibernian Military School has got but one increment, after 41 years' service; whether the second master, Royal Hibernian Military School, has also been given but one increment, though having upwards of 16 years' service, thus receiving less than either the third or fourth masters there, or the second, third, or fourth masters at the Royal Military Asylum; whether all other officials of both establishments have got the benefit of their service; whether this grievance has been repeatedly laid before the War Office Authorities since 1873, endorsed by the Board of Governors of the Royal Hibernian Military School, and hitherto ignored; and, whether payment will be made of the arrears accruing since the 1st April, 1874, when the Warrant took effect, amounting respectively to £165 for the Head Master and £85 for the second master, up to the 1st April, 1887; and, if not, why is the Royal Warrant made effective in every other case, both as to military and civilian officials, and not with reference to these?

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WAR DEPARTMENT (Mr. BRODRICK) (Surrey, Guildford)

(who replied) said: The masters of the Royal Hibernian Military School referred to in the Question had, according to their years of service, received the full benefit of the Warrant.

MR. SEXTON

In consequence of the unsatisfactory answer of the hon. Gentleman, I shall call the attention of the House to the hardships endured by those officials when the proper Vote comes on.