Captain FABERasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state why the proficiency pay of 6d. a day which took the place of service pay, 7d. a day, was 351 only allotted to the cavalry and infantry, and why the Artillery, Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Medical, and Army Ordnance suffer a loss of 7d. a day; whether, when service pay was introduced, good conduct pay was done away with, and has never been restored; and, if so, whether he can restore it with a view to helping the corps named?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe Artillery, as well as the other fighting arms, namely, the cavalry and infantry, receive proficiency pay. The other arms mentioned receive, as the corresponding emolument, either Engineer pay or corps pay, and are thus sufficiently provided for. The maximum rates of Engineer and corps pay are considerably higher than the maximum rate of proficiency pay. The principle of giving pay in respect of good conduct or of withdrawing it in respect of misconduct has been abandoned, and it is not proposed to reintroduce it.
§ Mr. HALDANEThey now receive higher pay.
Mr. L. W. EVANSCan the right hon. Gentleman do something in the case of a man who has served twelve years and is now in a position of having to choose whether he re-enlists and loses 7d. a day, or goes out of the Army and loses the pension for which he has served two-thirds of the necessary time?
§ Mr. HALDANEThat question is very far from arising out of the question that has been answered, but if the hon. Member will give me notice I will give him an answer.