Captain CRAIGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the recent regulations issued containing the new scale of Army pensions are retrospective, or whether they apply only to officers joining subsequent to the issue of the Regulations?
§ Colonel SEELYThe new Regulations are retrospective, subject to the rights reserved to officers now in the Service.
Captain CRAIGIs it not a fact that the new Regulations go back rather on the promise made to the officers when they joined? Is it not a fact that the War Office are not prepared to keep their promise to the officers when they joined?
§ Colonel SEELYI do not think that is I an accurate description of the change, but 303 it is a complicated matter, and, if the hon. and gallant Member likes, I will send him a memorandum showing how the Regulations affect the different officers.
Captain CRAIGThe right hon. Gentleman does not deny that in the case of many officers their retiring pensions are less than, those promised when they joined?
§ Colonel SEELYThe change is an advantage to some classes and a disadvantage to others financially, at any rate apparently; but all the vested rights of officers are preserved.