§ 24. Major GLYNasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is now in a position to announce the' new conditions of pay and pension for the Army; whether he is aware that the delay in making public the terms of future service with the Army is the cause of officers resigning whose continued service in the Army is much to be desired; and what has been the reason for the delay in publishing these figures and terms, since it has been repeatedly stated that the War Office Committee had reached a decision find had obtained Treasury approval?
§ Mr. FORSTERThese matters are under the consideration of His Majesty's Government, and I am not yet in a position to make an announcement, though I hope to do so very shortly. I am not aware of the statements referred to in the last part of the question.
§ Major GLYNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a largo number of officers have made arrangements for taking houses on next quarter day, and that if 2126 this announcement is held up very much longer they will not be able to carry out those arrangements, and can he give an assurance that some such announcement will be made before the end of this month?
§ Mr. FORSTERI cannot say more than that an announcement will be made as soon as a definite decision is reached. No one is more anxious than the Army Council and myself that a decision should be come to with the least possible delay.
§ Major GLYNIs it the intention of the Treasury to economise on the Army by maintaining officers' pay at a very low rate after the Navy and the Air Service have been dealt with?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt is not a question for the Treasury. It is a question for the Government to decide, and the Government are deciding it.