HC Deb 16 May 1911 vol 25 cc1824-5
Sir REGINALD POLE-CAREW

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, under the Royal Warrant of 1881, majors in the Army were placed on the retired list at the age of forty-eight with a pension of £300 a year; whether, in April, 1909, that warrant was altered, and majors are now compelled to serve for the same pension till the age of fifty; and whether, seeing that the Amendment of 1909 changed the conditions of service under which officers had joined and been serving for twenty-eight years, he would consider the desirability of making the retirement of majors optional on the terms of the warrant under which they joined the service?

Colonel SEELY

Will the hon. and gallant Member kindly refer to the reply given to a similar question put by the hon. Member for York on this subject on Monday, 13th March, to which I have nothing to add.

Sir R. POLE-CAREW

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman how he reconciles that answer with the decision arrived at as regards Territorial adjutants in whose case one day precludes them from participating in the advantage given to those who were appointed after a certain date?

Colonel SEELY

I would ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman to give notice of any further particular points on which he wishes information. I have nothing to add to the answer to which I have referred him.

Mr. MacNEILL

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the memorandum and correspondence on this subject? A great act of injustice has been done.