§ Mr. GRETTON (Rutland)To ask the Postmaster-General if, in view of the fact that the War Office allowance for Territorial soldiers attending the schools of instruction has been reduced from 4s. to 2s. per diem, he will grant to Post Office employees who are Territorial soldiers, and who attend these schools, such proportion of their wages as will indemnify them from the loss they would otherwise sustain; and if he is aware that many private employers have already adopted this course.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) As I informed the hon. Member in reply to previous Question on the 30th ultimo, Post Office servants are allowed special leave without pay to attend military 60 schools if the exigencies of the service admit. This leave is in addition to the special leave prescribed by the Treasury for attendance at the annual camp; and, while I sympathise with the efforts of Territorial soldiers to extend their knowledge of military matters, I do not think that I could justify a further charge on the Post Office Votes by reason of any alteration which may have been made in military pay or allowances during attendance at these schools. I may add that I am in communication with the Treasury as regards the conditions of special leave for camp purposes.