HC Deb 14 March 1916 vol 80 cc1873-4
13. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of officers on the Reserve of Officers who rejoined their regiments at the commencement of the War, the service of the War will be added to their previous service and allowed to count for pension provided the total number of years served qualify under the Royal Warrant?

Mr. TENNANT

No, Sir. These officers, who receive full pay, in addition to any pensions or gratuities earned prior to retirement, do not count their further service for pension.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

Is there no chance of that being reconsidered seeing the great assistance these officers are giving in the War?

Mr. TENNANT

I think the sense generally of the public is that they ought not to get both their pension and their full pay. Now they are getting their full pay and pension.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

The pension to which they would be entitled after the War and not now if they add to their period of service owing to the War?

Mr. TENNANT

I do not think I can hold out much hope of that.

Colonel YATE

If an officer has been invalided out of the Service and has been recalled and invalided again, will he be entitled to a second invalid pension?

Mr. SPEAKER

That does not arise out of the question.

16. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there are numbers of officers on the Reserve of Officers who rejoined their regiments at the commencement of the War who have done most excellent service, and are in some cases holding high temporary rank, but yet have been refused all promotion; and what is the reason for refusing promotion to this section of the Service while everybody else is getting it?

Mr. TENNANT

The hon. Gentleman is not correct in saying that everybody else is getting promotion except the category of officers to whom he alludes in his question. I have already explained that officers of the Reserve of Officers get promotion when they come to the top of the list of their rank, their seniority being counted from the first day of mobilisation.