§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that men are now being discharged from the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, under what is called revision and not reduction, and the men are informed that they are not entitled to the bonus given to men who have served seven years or more on reduction; and will he consider what method can be adopted to enable men discharged on revision to obtain their bonus.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. Haldane, Haddington)I am glad that my hon. friend has called attention to this matter. A certain number of men who were taken on on temporary engagement during the pressure of the late war have been gradually discharged. But as the result of consultation with the Quartermaster. General I am glad to say that we think that no further discharges need take place in the Ordnance Department.
§ MR. CROOKSBut these men are being discharged under what is called a revision instead of a reduction, and therefore get no bonus.
§ MR. HALDANEThey were men temporarily taken on. I hope there will be no further discharges.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal,S.)How far, approximately, would the £50,000 voted to Lord Cromer go in the direction of supplying a bonus to every one of these men?