§ 86. Mr. FALLEasked the right hon. Gentleman if, of some sixty men of the Royal Marine Artillery who qualified last year for pension, only two of the whole number re-engaged, the rest being lost to the Service; if a large proportion of these men would have re-engaged had they been certain that the pensions due to length of service or badge moneys already accrued to them could under no circumstances be lost or taken away; and, if so, if he will consider the possibility of making this concession or give this assurance, and so allow of the re-engagement of these men?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)Marines who qualify for pension after twenty-one years' service are not, except in very special cases, permitted to continue to serve beyond twenty-one years. Forty-nine men of the Royal Marine Artillery qualified during the last financial year for pension and were discharged to pension, whilst two were permitted to serve beyond twenty-one years. Men permitted to serve beyond twenty-one years do not draw their pension until finally discharged. To that pension a small amount is added, under conditions, for the additional service. Probably the hon. Member's question refers to the cases of men who have completed their first period of enlistment. At this point they are not eligible for a pension; and seventy-three men of the Royal Marine Artillery were discharged after twelve years' service last year. If they had re-engaged for another nine years and had completed twenty-one years' service for pension, the amount of that pension would have been affected by the character of their service during the last nine years.