HC Deb 02 July 1900 vol 85 cc267-8
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been directed to the cases of Privates Taylor and White, of the Army Ordnance Corps, who, having served seven years in the Army and five years in the Reserve, had completed their Army engagements, and obtained this year, on re-enlisting into the Royal Reserve, the usual bounty of £12, and have since taken on to complete the service of twenty-one years with the colours; whether he is aware that these men, on re-enlisting for the purpose of serving out the full term of twenty-one years, are now under orders to China, and have been apprised that the £12 bounty which they received will be deducted from their pay; whether, as the former practice under which a man who served five or seven years with the colours and then went into the Reserve could not return to the colours for the purpose of serving out his time so as to be entitled to a pension unless he repaid his deferred pay has been for some time abrogated, he can say on what ground it has been rescinded without notice to the men affected by the alteration; and whether, having regard to the circumstances of the case, it will be provided that Reservists on re-enlistment will not be liable to refund the sums paid to them as bounty.

*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

The bounty of £12 was specially attached to the engagement for one year's service at home. Men re-enlisting for service at home and abroad to complete twenty-one years' service will have the advantage of a pension at the end of their term. The Secretary of State for War does not consider that such men are entitled to retain the bounty; but the refund is diminished by a deduction of £1 for each month which they have served since their re-enlistment for home service.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Did these men know that the bounty would be taken from them?

*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

Yes,, that was one of the terms of re-enlistment. One of the conditions of re-enlistment for home or foreign service is that the bounty should be refunded.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Will the hon. Gentleman see that in the future the War Office clearly notifies that in such cases the money will have to be repaid?

*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

I think the notice is perfectly clear. I will, however, look into it, and if it is not sufficiently clear I will see that it is made quite clear.