§ 48. Captain HACKINGasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the statement contained in the Disabled Soldiers' Handbook, 1918, which publication is given officially to every disabled man on discharge, that a pension has nothing to do with any wages or salary that a soldier may earn after discharge, and in view of the consequent natural dissatisfaction felt by Civil servants when a deduction is made from their pay, he will issue orders that no exceptions shall be made to the general rule laid down for Civil servants, which states that no deduction shall be made from the civil pay or sick pay of Civil servants in respect of disability pensions granted in connection with the War?
§ Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)The present Regulations are the result of careful considera- 1341 tion, and I am unable to contemplate their amendment as proposed. The hon. and gallant Member will be aware, from the answers given by me to the hon. Member for the Kirkdale Division of Liverpool on the 17th instant, and to the hon. Member for Twickenham on the 18th February last, that it is only when a Civil servant goes on sick leave before or within one month of return to duty that his civil pay is reduced, and even then he receives, inclusive of his disability pension, a sum equal to full civil salary.