HC Deb 26 March 1912 vol 36 c199
Mr. CHARLES BATHURST

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the sense of hardship felt by majors in the Regular Army, and especially by those who have joined the Service from the university at the age of twenty-two or twenty-three, in consequence of the Army Order of 1909, as modified by the Army Orders of 1910 and 1911, altering the age of retirement on a pension of £300 from forty-eight to fifty, he will alter the present Regulations so as at any rate to give such officers the alternative choice of retiring either under the old scale or under the new, whichever suits them best?

Colonel SEELY

I undertook in Debate on Army Estimates to consider cases of real hardship arising out of this Order. I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Major ARCHER-SHEE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the principal cases of hardship will arise in about eight or ten years' time, when the right hon. Gentleman may not possibly be at the War Office?

Colonel SEELY

I have no doubt that in redressing hardship any Government, from whatever party it may be drawn, will follow out such redress to the best of its ability.

MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINE

As there are evident cases of hardship now, is there any reason why there should not be cases of hardship in the future; and cannot the right hon. Gentleman settle the matter now?

Colonel SEELY

I have said that we are considering the question.

Colonel YATE

Is the question of giving the officers an alternative choice under consideration at the present time?

Colonel SEELY

I do not think I can go into details of the matter now. We are considering the whole question in accordance with the pledge I gave in the discussion on Army Estimates.