§ 21. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the National Reserve bounty was originally refused to men who volunteered to rejoin the Army if they were above the age of fifty; and whether, in view of the fact that the Army age limit has recently been raised to fifty-one, he will extend the issue of the National Reserve bounty so as to include all men who rejoined within the limits of the latter age?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe National Reserve bounty is issued only to men who undertook an obligation before 11th August, 1914, and subsequently fulfilled it by enlisting. All those who fulfilled the obligation by enlisting as required have received the bounty, irrespective of age, on enlistment. It is obviously impossible to modify now the conditions under which an obligation could be undertaken in 1914.
§ Colonel ASHLEYThen I understand that any man who has fulfilled this obligation to join up to fifty-one gets the money?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes; as far as I know, everyone who has undertaken the obligation, irrespective of age, gets the bounty.