§ 66. Mr. SITCHasked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Law Officers of the Crown have expressed the opinion that the deductions which the Postmaster-General has been making from the pay of Post Office servants are illegal, and that refundment is to take place; whether these men volunteered in the knowledge that they were entitled to the usual gratuity on discharge; and whether he will consult the Law Officers of the Crown as to the legality of the Army Council Instruction, issued in 1917, which varied the conditions of the men who had volunteered two or three years previously, and which laid it down that they were not to be paid the gratuity to which they were entitled under their term of enlistment?
83. Sir F. HALLasked the Postmaster-General whether in the early stages of the War, when the Army was in need of trained signal personnel, an offer was made that Post Office officials joining the Signal Service would be granted full civil pay, in addition to their Army pay; whether officers now being demobilised are informed that, in consequence of this arrangement, they cannot be given any gratuity; if he will give the date on which these restrictions came into operation; whether officers who joined previous to 1932 any notification of exclusion of the gratuity are to receive the same; and, if not, on whose authority these gratuities are being withheld?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Illingworth)I beg to refer my hon. Friends to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Wednesbury on the 26th instant.