§ 45. Brigadier-General WIGANasked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that the period spent by Civil servants who served in the Navy or Army during the War should continue to count towards their civil pensions?
§ Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)I am not quite sure that I understand the meaning of my hon. and gallant Friend's question. If he refers 1927 to pensionable Civil servants who are compulsory retained in the Navy or Army as part of the Army of Occupation and its naval equivalent, I can readily give him the desired assurance. But a Civil servant who, being eligible for demobilisation and required for early return to civil duty, prefers to remain with the Forces, must be regarded as being on leave of absence without pay from the Civil Service, the period of absence not to count either for increment or for pension.
§ Earl WINTERTONAre we to understand that all Post Office employéswho have been in the Royal Engineers or other branches of the Army during the War will be allowed to count their War service towards Civil pension if they return to civil employment?
§ Mr. BALDWINI would rather have notice of that question.
§ Earl WINTERTONThis question has been put down ever since Parliament met, and we have been so far informed that the matter is receiving consideration. Is the hon. Gentleman aware there is grave discontent among the men in the Telegraph Companies of the Royal Engineers in consequence of the refusal of the Government to give an answer on this point?