§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, Chelmsford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will take into consideration the cases of re-employed Reserve Officers who have been serving for months on a low rate of pay, and who by regulation are placed lowest in the rank in which they formerly served, being thus superseded by officers formerly their juniors, and who have been refused promotion except in certain cases; and will he take into consideration the conditions thus imposed upon these officers, inasmuch as any who have become entitled by further service to an increase of pension are compelled by regulation either to refund the gratuity granted by the Royal Warrant, or else to forego the increase of pension.
§ MR. BRODRICKIf Reserve Officers become senior of their rank in the unit with which they have been employed, they would on the occurrence of a vacancy receive promotion, taking up the next senior with them. In cases where promotion is given after a definite period of service, Reserve Officers receive the benefit of such promotion. Officers who have been employed in higher 179 rank than they hold in the reserve, have been granted a step on reverting to the reserve, and in many cases where special circumstances existed, promotion has been given to Reserve Officers while serving. Several officers have been promoted for services in South Africa. The cases of others are under consideration. As regards the last part of the Question, a Reserve Officer is given the option of electing the gratuity allowed by Article 601 B of the Pay Warrant, or the increase to pension or gratuity allowed by Article 601 A; he cannot be granted both.