§ 15. Mr. FORESTIER-WALKERasked the Secretary for War if he is aware that the Postmaster-General has recently reviewed the cases of men who enlisted under the Post Office circular of the 29th September, 1914, and decided to cease deductions made on the increases of separation allowances and to refund the same; and whether he will also review the decision not to pay the demobilisation gratuity?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 26th February by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General, in answer to questions by the hon. Members for Wednesbury and Wolverhampton East, to the effect that the question of the Service gratuity is under consideration. It is not 206 proposed, to modify the decision under which these men were specifically excluded from the war gratuity.
§ Mr. FORESTIER - WALKERArising out of that answer, may I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the intention of the Post Office circular of September, 1914, was to place re-enlisting Post Office men on the same footing, as regards military pay and allowances, as the ordinary soldier?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI understand these men get not only their military pay but also their full civil pay. I should have thought in that case their position compares very favourably with that of the ordinary soldier, and that it is not necessary to emphasise it.