§ MR. G. A. HARDY (Suffolk, Stowmarket)To ask the Secretary of State for War what would be the average annual increased charge on the non-effective Vote if Article 529 (b) of the Royal Warrant were amended so as to allow of quartermasters receiving £10 a year increase in their rate of retired pay for each year's service in excess of twenty years up to a maximum of £250 a year, as they are now liable to a reduction of £10 a year to a minimum of £150 for any year's service short of twenty years' qualifying service as laid down in Article 490.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) On the assumption that quartermasters would retire voluntarily at the same time as they do now, the result for the whole number of quartermasters would ultimately be an extra charge of about £25,000 a year.