48. Mr. DENNISSasked the Prime Minister whether he has received from the sailors' and soldiers' pay committee, formed by the General Federation of Trade Unions, a request for a substantial gratuity, based on length of service during the War, to be paid to all men who have been demobilised, to the dependants of those that have been killed, and to men demobilised on the cessation of hostilities; and, if so, whether the Government has come to any decision on the subject?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Bonar Law)As the reply is a long one, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following is the reply circulated:
§ The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ A special gratuity will be payable to the warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Army and Royal Air Force. This gratuity will be based upon service, both as to length and nature. It will be paid to every man who has joined, either voluntarily or compulsorily, either of the forces, from 4th August, 1914, up to the time of his discharge. It will also be payable to men already demobilised, and to the legatees or next-of-kin of such men as have been killed, such amounts being based upon their length of service as from the time of enlistment until the date of death.
§ The exceptions are as follows:
- (a) Conscientious objectors.
- (b) Medically unfit, who were discharged within six months as unfit to be soldiers, and
§ I.
§ Scale of gratuities payable on demobilisation to Warrant Officers, N.C.O.'s and men of the Army and R.A.F. who have served for any period of the War overseas.
§ War gratuity (including gratuities on discharge due under the Pay Warrant)—Basis, £5 for a Private in his first year of service, with an addition of 10s. a month, commencing with the second year; fixed additions for rank.
| — | First Year. | Second Year. | Third Tear. | Fourth Year. | Fifth Year. | ||||||||
| £ | £ | s. | d. £ | s. | £ | s. £ | £ | s. £ | s. | £ | s. £ | ||
| Private | … | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0—11 | 0 | 11 | 0—17 | 17 | 0—23 | 0 | 23 | 0—29 |
| Corporal | … | 6 | 6 | 10 | 0—12 | 0 | 12 | 0—18 | 18 | 0—24 | 0 | 24 | 0—30 |
| Sergeant | … | 8 | 8 | 10 | 0—14 | 0 | 14 | 0—20 | 20 | 0—26 | 0 | 26 | 0—32 |
| W.O. Class 11. | … | 12 | 12 | 10 | 0—18 | 0 | 18 | 0—24 | 24 | 0—30 | 0 | 30 | 0—36 |
| W.O. Class I. | … | 15 | 15 | 10 | 0—21 | 0 | 21 | 0—27 | 27 | 0—33 | 0 | 33 | 0—39 |
§ (c) The Class "W" men, who were released for civil work, for such time as they have been on civil work at full rates of civil pay.
§ The scale for men who have served overseas is as follows:
- For the private, £5 for the first year, with 10s. per month in addition after the first year; the corporal, £6, with like addition; sergeant, £8; warrant officer Class II., £12; and the warrant officer Class I., £15, with same additions for subsequent periods of service.
§ Five years is the limit for assessment of gratuity. Five years' service entitles a private to £29, and the highest rank of warrant officer to £39. The scale for the man who has done home service only is based upon the same amount for the first year, namely, £5 private, £6 corporal, £8 sergeant, £12 warrant officer Class II., and £15 warrant officer Class I. The additions, however, are at the rate of 5s. for the subsequent period of service, making for the five years' service £17 for the private, and £27 for the warrant officer Class I. The men who have drawn pay and Service pensions concurrently are eligible for a lower rate. Those who have done service abroad and have drawn pay and Service pension concurrently will be entitled to the above amounts for the first year, and 5s. per month for subsequent periods of service; and those who have served at home only, and have drawn pay and Service pension concurrently will be entitled to an additional 2s. 6d. per month after the first year's service.
§ A further announcement will be made with regard to the Royal Navy, as well as to the gratuity to be paid to Regular officers of the Royal Navy and the Army.
§ A detailed scale for the Army and the Royal Air Force is annexed.
3401§ II.
§ Scale of gratuities payable on demobilisation to Warrant Officers, N.C.O.'s and men of the Army and R.A.F. who have not served overseas for any period of the War.
§ War gratuity (including gratuities on discharge due under the Pay Warrant)—Basis, £5 for a Private in his first year of service, with an addition of 5s. a month, commencing with the second year; fixed additions for rank.
§ N.B.—No gratuity is payable unless the man has served at least six months.
| — | First Year. | Second Year. | Third Year. | Fourth Year. | Fifth Year. | ||||||||
| £ | £ | s. | d. £ | S. | £ | s. £ | £ | s. £ | s. | £ | s. £ | ||
| Private | … | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0—8 | 0 | 3 | 5—11 | 11 | 5—14 | 0 | 14 | 5—17 |
| Corporal | … | 6 | 6 | 5 | 0—9 | 0 | 9 | 5—12 | 12 | 5—15 | 0 | 15 | 5—18 |
| Sergeant | … | 8 | 8 | 5 | 0—11 | 0 | 11 | 5—14 | 14 | 5—17 | 0 | 17 | 5—20 |
| W.O. Class II. | … | 12 | 12 | 5 | 0—15 | 0 | 15 | 5—18 | 18 | 5—21 | 0 | 21 | 5—24 |
| W.O. Class I. | … | 15 | 15 | 5 | 0—18 | 0 | 18 | 5—21 | 21 | 5—24 | 0 | 24 | 5—27 |
§ III.
§ Scale of gratuities payable on demobilisation to Warrant Officers, N.C.O.'s and men of the Army and R.A.F. who have drawn service pensions concurrently with pay and have served for any period during the War overseas.
§ War gratuity (including gratuities on discharge due under the Pay Warrant)—Basis, £5 for a Private in his first year of service, with an addition of 5s. a month, commencing with the second year; fixed additions for rank.
| — | £ | £ | s. | d. £ | s. | £ | s. £ | £ | s. £ | s. | £ | s. £ | |
| Private | … | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0—8 | 0 | 8 | 5—11 | 11 | 5—14 | 0 | 14 | 5—17 |
| Corporal | … | 6 | 6 | 5 | 0—9 | 0 | 9 | 5—12 | 12 | 5—15 | 0 | 15 | 5—18 |
| Sergeant | … | 8 | 8 | 5 | 0—11 | 0 | 11 | 5—14 | 14 | 5—17 | 0 | 17 | 5—20 |
| W.O. Class II. | … | 12 | 12 | 5 | 0—15 | 0 | 15 | 5—18 | 18 | 5—21 | 0 | 21 | 5—24 |
| W.O. Class I. | … | 15 | 15 | 5 | 0—18 | 0 | 18 | 5—21 | 21 | 5—24 | 0 | 24 | 5—27 |
§ IV.
§ Scale of gratuities payable on demobilisation to Warrant Officers, N.C.O.'s and men of the Army and R.A.F. who have drawn service pensions concurrently with pay and have not served overseas.
§ War gratuity (including gratuities on discharge due under the Pay Warrant)—Basis, £5 for a Private in his first year of service, with an addition of 2s. 6d. a month, commencing with the second year; fixed additions for rank.
§ N.B.—No gratuity is payable unless the man has served at least six months.
| — | £ | £ | s. | d. £ | s. | £ | s. £ | £ | s. £ | s. | £ | s. £ | |
| Private | … | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6—6 | 10 | 6 | 10—8 | 8 | 0—9 | 10 | 9 | 10—11 |
| Corporal | … | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6—7 | 10 | 7 | 10—9 | 9 | 0—10 | 10 | 10 | 10—12 |
| Sergeant | … | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6—9 | 10 | 9 | 10—11 | 11 | 0—12 | 10 | 12 | 10—14 |
| W.O. Class II. | … | 12 | 12 | 2 | 6—13 | 10 | 13 | 10—15 | 15 | 0—16 | 10 | 16 | 10—18 |
| W.O. Class I. | … | 15 | 15 | 2 | 6—16 | 10 | 16 | 10—18 | 18 | 0—19 | 10 | 19 | 10—21 |
§ NOTES—1. No gratuity to Conscientious Objectors.
§ 2. Time during which a soldier has worked for full civil wages, on munition work, etc., not to count in assessment.
§ 3. Deserters—All time previous to desertion to be ignored.
§ 4. Imprisonment—Periods of 28 days and over to be deducted in assessment.
§ 5. The maximum amount payable shall not in any case exceed that amount which can be earned by five years' service.
§ 6. Gratuities are only assessable on the above scales up to the end of the War, Estimated cost, £80,000,000.