HC Deb 23 March 1908 vol 186 cc1072-4
VISCOUNT VALENTIA (Oxford)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if it is the intention of the Army Council to deprive a secretary to a Territorial Force Association of his temporary retired pay awarded under Article 510 of the Army Pay Warrant.

MR. HALDANE

Officers drawing retired pay while serving in the Militia under the conditions of Article 510 of the Pay Warrant will not be eligible for the post of secretary. If they wish to take such a post they must leave the Militia. Officers serving in the Yeomanry under the conditions of Article 510 must be seconded before taking the post of secretary, and consequently cannot fulfil the conditions as to attending the annual training under which the grant of £100 per annum is made. In all other cases where officers already in receipt of retired pay are appointed secretaries of County Associations, they will continue to draw their retired pay as before.

MR. ARTHUR LEE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of a specific case in the Home Counties in which an officer who has been appointed secretary of a County Association at a salary of £50 has by doing so forfeited retired pay at the rate of £100 a year? Does the War Office intend to make it impossible for officers of military experience to accept these appointments without serious pecuniary loss?

MR. HALDANE

That is founded on complete misapprehension. If an officer is on retired pay, then he can take a County Association secretaryship and draw the salary in addition to the retired pay. If he is paid the £100 under the Article 510 for officiating in some capacity as a retired regular in the Militia, he cannot fulfil the two functions for the State, and he cannot be paid for two duties which are incompatible.

MR. ASHLEY

Is not the retired pay in consideration of services rendered while the officer in question was in the Army, and has nothing to do with the Militia?

MR. HALDANE

No. The case put under the article is a case where the officer has actually been appointed to a position in the Army, Militia, or Yeomanry, as the case may be, which is inconsistent with his giving his time to the duties of the other position. He cannot do both, and cannot be paid for both.

MR. ASHLEY

But is not the retired pay which this gentleman receives pay given him in consideration of Army service, and has nothing to do with Militia service?

MR. HALDANE

No; the theory is that if an officer undertakes duties in connection with the Militia he cannot also undertake duties in connection with the County Association.

VISCOUNT VALENTIA

In counties where the secretary's salary is £50, and the officer appointed is in receipt of a pension of £100 under the Army Pay Warrant he then is called upon to pay £50 out of his own pocket for the privilege of serving as secretary to the County Association.

MR. HALDANE

If he has retired pay as such he can take the position of secretary to the Association, but if, on the other hand, he fills a position in the Militia for which he is paid, then he must resign it if he desires the appointment of secretary.

VISCOUNT VALENTIA

rose to put a further Question.

*MR. SPEAKER

I think notice should be given of any further Question.