§ MR. HOZIER (Lanarkshire, S.)On behalf of Mr. FORREST FULTON I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered Section 4 of "The Superannuation Act, 1887," which enables the Treasury to give to workmen discharged on reduction a gratuity after seven years' service; and whether he can hold out any hope that the present practice of confining such gratuities only to men of twelve years' service will be modified in favour of the workmen recently discharged on reduction from Enfield and the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEThe clause in the Superannuation Act to which reference is made is clearly permissive in its character, and it rests with the Treasury to lay down the conditions under which any such gratuities may be granted. A rule was accordingly laid down under which the cases of men under twelve years' service were not sent forward. I propose, however, in future to submit to the Treasury to be decided upon their merits all the cases of men of not less than seven years' service who leave the Ordnance Factories under the conditions mentioned in the Act, and this will apply to all men who have recently been discharged on reduction.