§ 94. Mr. TOOTILLasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a large number of Royal Engineer telegraphists have been paid the war gratuity on discharge on the ground that they had not been in receipt of full civil emoluments during their term of services with the forces; whether the continued refusal of the Treasury to pay the war gratuity which all of these men expected to receive on discharge has led to inequalities and anomalies; and whether, in the interests of good administration and to avoid unnecessary unrest and dissatisfaction, he will urge upon the Government the claim of all demobilised Royal Engineers to receive the war gratuity?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have been asked to reply to this question. I can add nothing to my answer to the hon. Member for Burnley on the 10th April last and to my many replies to similar questions since that date.
Lieut.-Colonel A. HERBERTIs my right hon. Friend aware that the service of these men during the War has been very good, and that the differentiation is very unfair?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes, I am quite aware that their service has been very good indeed, but I cannot admit that there is any undue differentiation against them, and I should like my hon. and gallant Friend to remember that these men, alone of all the men in the Army, has received full civil rates of pay as well as their military rates of pay during their military service.