§ MR. MALCOLM () Suffolk, StowmarketOn behalf of the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Dublin University (Mr. Carson) I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War will he explain why a gratuity of £100 made to Militia officers on the disembodiment of their regiments (in addition to their pay) is not granted to officers who have served in the Regular Army and have afterwards accepted commissions in the Militia; whether such last-mentioned officers whilst serving with the Militia only receive the same pay as Militia officers; and whether the War Office will consider the advisability of granting to all officers of the Militia alike the said gratuity.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMUnder existing regulations Militia officers who have served in the Regular Army are given a gratuity of £100 on disembodiment unless they are in receipt of a pension or gratuity on retirement from the Regular forces. They receive the same pay as the other Militia officers. It is now proposed to give the gratuity on disembodiment to all with one proviso: where the additional year's service would entitle an officer to a higher rate of pension he will have to choose between that higher rate and the gratuity.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the, Under Secretary of State for War if he can state whether a decision has now been arrived at with respect to the granting to ex-Army officers serving in the Militia the same gratuity as that given to Militia officers upon their regiments being embodied; and whether the case of retired officers of the Regular Army serving in the Militia being deprived of their pension dining embodiment has been considered.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI have dealt with the first point in reply to the hon. Member for Dublin University. With reference 794 to the second point, the retired officer is allowed to draw his retired pay for twenty-seven days—being the equivalent of a yearly training in addition to his full pay; but after that period he receives only the full pay of his appointment.