§ MR. GEORGE ROBERTS (Norwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Captain E. B. Wilson, 5th Lancers, who was gazetted in 739 November, 1907, as placed on half-pay, was allowed to retain his appointment as Superintendent of Gymnasia, Northern Command; whether it is usual for an officer on half-pay to continue in such an important position; whether Captain Wilson regularly appeared in the monthly Army List up to and including August, 1908, as holding the appointment, though never being near the gymnasia nor performing any single duty in connection with the post of superintendent during the whole nine months; whether Captain Wilson received full pay during that period; and, if so, what action the Secretary of State proposes to take in the matter.
§ MR. HALDANEHe was allowed to retain his appointment up to 24th March, 1908, when he was removed from his appointment. So far as officers on half-pay are concerned, it is quite usual to give them appointments on the staff. Although he was removed from his appointment on 24th March, 1908, Captain Wilson's name continued to appear in the Army List, through a clerical error, as holding the appointment up to August, 1908. He, however, did no duty in connection with the post of Superintendent of Gymnasia after 24th March. Through an error made by the Army agents, Captain Wilson has been credited with the pay of his appointment from 25th March to 31st August. The over-issue of pay is in course of recovery.