§ 71. Mr. R. MCNEILLasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether an order was issued on the 1st October, 1914, to the effect that non-commissioned officers holding the appointment of barrack 227 wardens were not to be permitted to reenlist; and, if so, why men whose services as barrack wardens were thus valued and who in consequence were debarred from re-enlistment are now excluded from the benefit of the new scale of pension on the ground that they have not given satisfactory re-enlisted service during the War?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAn order was issued in October, 1914, that barrack wardens should not be permitted to reenlist as drill instructors. I regret that I am unable to permit any departure from the terms of the warrant requiring military service during the War as a condition of increase of pension.
§ Mr. MCNEILLDoes the right hon. Gentleman really think that a body of men who were prevented from enlisting should be deprived of this increased pension because they did not enlist?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThey had to qualify for the pension by particular services. If those services have not been rendered I have no power to vary the terms of the warrant.