96. Mr. DUNCANasked the Postmaster- General whether it has been the practice for many years for members of the postal telegraph service who joined the signal 2161 service, Royal Engineers, during war time to receive full civil pay in addition to military pay; whether a promise to continue this practice was given to such men who entered the Army in 1914; whether he is aware that in 1917 a decision was come to to withhold gratuities and other military emoluments from the men who joined for the present War; and whether he will take steps to secure a reconsideration of this matter, in view of the promise given and the fact that the men concerned are away serving on all the Allied fronts and are unable to take any collective action at the moment?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI must refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire on the 18th of March. As was then stated, in view of the exceptional treatment in the matter of pay already accorded to Post Office servants serving in the Royal Engineers Signal Service as compared with those serving in other units, it was not considered that they should benefit by the gratuity issued to soldiers serving on the ordinary terms, and the same consideration applies to the additions which have been made to military emoluments since the beginning of 1917.