HC Deb 13 March 1919 vol 113 cc1439-40
110. Major BARKER

asked the Secretary of State for War whether time expired men upon re-enlisting received a bounty of £15, whilst men whose time expired while prisoners of war are denied this bonus; and whether he will sympathetically consider a change in the Regulations, so that these men who have suffered for their country may not be penalised from the fact that they were taken prisoners?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I understand my hon. and gallant Friend to refer to the bounty paid to men compulsorily held to serve under the Military Service Acts, after they had completed their term of enlistment. The bounty is not payable except to men so retained; and under the Act of 1916 prisoners of war were expressly exempted from such retention.