MR. S ALTER (Hants, N.)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet completed the inquiries promised on the 2nd July last into the case of D. Bremner, formerly corporal in charge of the medical inspection room, 3rd Infantry Brigade, Aldershot, who was discharged from the Army on the 6th February, 1906, after twenty-four and a half years' service, without receiving the deferred pay to which he became entitled on his discharge, such deferred pay being withhold from him on the alleged ground that he was only a private and had improperly drawn corporal's pay from 1st November, 1902, until 31st January, 1906; whether Bremner was not, in fact, appointed corporal by the colonel commanding the 42nd Regimental District in July, 1901, and therefore, until the date of his discharge, continuously performed corporal's duties, drew corporal's pay with the knowledge and sanction of the Pay Office, and was allowed to wear corporal's uniform; and, if so, will he state, in view of the facts, what justification exists for withholding Bremner's deferred pay, and whether it will now be paid to him, or what other course it is proposed to take in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) This case has been very fully inquired 873 into by the Army Council, and, in view of the fact that Bremner was aware that an improper rate of pay was being issued to him and that he had no right to wear a corporal's stripe, it was decided to withhold the issue of his deferred pay as a set-off against the amount of pay he had improperly drawn.