§ SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that candidates on the roll for the Royal Irish Constabulary are permitted to join the Irish Guards on a three years enlistment, of which two years will be reckoned towards their Constabulary pension in the event of their being subsequently enrolled in the Royal Irish Constabulary, and that men in civil departments of the Imperial Government, who are transferred to the Post Office, can reckon the whole of their service in such departments towards their Post Office pensions, he will explain why a concession of a like nature is not granted to soldiers and sailors who are admitted to established appointments in His Majesty's Civil Service who do not at present receive any superannuation for services performed in the Army or Navy.
§ (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) I am not aware that service in the Irish Guards reckons towards the pension of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and I think that the hon. Member must be under a misapprehension on the point. As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Camberwell North on March 29th†, legislation would be necessary in order to enable military service to reckon for civil pension, and it does not appear to me that such legislation is called for in the circumstances of the present time.