§ 21. Mr. F. ROBERTSasked the Secretary for War whether he will explain why many Post Office women telegraphists who were members of the 'Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps have 1086 not been paid the Army of Occupation bonus; whether he is aware that these women were forbidden by the Postmaster-General to re-enlist, under the penalty that the' period of re-enlistment would not count in respect of service for pension, leave, and marriage gratuity; and whether, seeing that these women telegraphists were soldiers on active service, he will consider the possibility of paying them a retention bonus of agreed amount to that which was paid to all men retained for the machinery of demobilisation?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONNo members of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps were eligible for the Army of Occupation bonus unless they entered into the necessary engagement for further service. I regret that I am unable to make any exception to this principle.