27. Mr. PALMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Captain A. Baker, Royal Field Artillery, applied for a gratuity under Article 572 (a), 1914, he having rejoined as a sergeant-major on the outbreak of War, and subsequently received his commission; whether Captain Baker claimed for 13 years' service, and was his claim cut down by one year according to a letter sent to him by the Financial Secretary on the 16th instant, the reason being that he had served one day less than 13 years; whether this means to the officer in question the loss of £150; and is he aware that such treatment is common not only among officers, but also among the rank and file who claim service pensions?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONYes, Sir. The regulations base the grant upon the number of completed years' service, as do most regulations relating to pensions and similar matters. The same is the case with premiums payable in life insurance. It is not practicable in such cases to depart from the definite rule that a year 234 means an entire calendar year, as if a concession were made for 364 days the hardship would only be transferred to the case of 363 days and so on.