HC Deb 17 February 1908 vol 184 cc421-2
MR. G. A. HARDY (Suffolk, Stowmarket)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will say why a combatant major should get a retiring allowance of £300 per annum on retiring at the age of forty-eight years, while a man who has risen from the ranks by sheer merit gets only £200 per annum on retirement as a major at the age of fifty-five years.

MR. HALDANE

The quartermaster when he retires at the age of fifty-five has on the average about fifteen years' commissioned service. His rank of Major is only an honorary one, and he rises to it automatically, an honorary majority being given after fifteen years' of commissioned service. Moreover, his duties remain practically the same throughout, no increase of responsibility following the rise in rank. A combatant major who retires at the age of forty-eight has averaged twenty-seven years' commissioned service. Unlike the quartermaster, each step of promotion he receives is followed by a considerable increase in his duties and responsibilities, and to

1st October, 1905.
Officers. Warrant Officers. Sergeants. Trumpeters. Rank and File. Total.
Home 308 214 778 64 4527 5891
Colonies 134 49 210 8 652 1053
Total 442 263 988 72 5179 6944

attain it he has to pass a higher standard of examination at each succeeding step. I do not, therefore, think that a comparison on the lines made in the question can fairly be made.