§ MR. YOUNGER (Lincolnshire, Stamford)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, having regard to the fact that there are a certain number of officers of Militia of the rank of major and upwards who are now serving during the period of embodiment of their regiments, who are entitled to retired pay, and who are past the age of compulsory service in the Reserve, and that those officers are subjected to a deduction from their pay equal to their pension, whether, as their pension is for past service, and as they are not liable through having passed the limit of age to be called upon to serve, he will take steps to remove what is felt to be a hardship to officers who are now holding responsible positions in
† See The Parliamentary Debates [Fourth Series], Vol. lxxxiv., pages 143 and 282.74 regiments of Militia which are at present embodied.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMAll Militia officers are under a compulsory liability to serve on embodiment. The Secretary of State is not prepared to alter the rule that no officer may draw full pay and retired pay at the same time.
§ MR. YOUNGERBut is there any reason why these Militia officers should be on a different footing to other Army officers serving with the Militia? Is it not provided under an Army order dated April this year that they shall draw their pensions without any deductions?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMI do not think the hon. Member quite appreciates the fact that an officer in the Militia has accepted service with the Militia whenever embodied, and therefore he is obviously on; an entirely different footing.