§ 17. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for War if he will inform the House of the reason of the War Office Regulation which precludes previous service in the Royal Marines or Royal Navy from being counted towards pension by an officer now serving, or who has served in the Army or Air Force, although previous service on the civil side at the Admiralty counts for pension in the case of a civil servant transferred from the Admiralty to the War Office; and whether he will communicate with the Lords of the Admiralty with a view to service in any branch of His Majesty's forces being recognised as though the service had been in one of such forces only, so that the present anomalous position may be remedied.
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)My hon. Friend is not comparing like with like. The case referred to in his previous question is that of a man who had served in, and been discharged from, the Marines, and subsequently enlisted in the Army. Such a case could hardly arise in the Civil Service; but if it did, I should be much surprised if the service before discharge were allowed to count under the second engagement. If a man transfers while serving, from the Marines to the Army, he would count his service. That would be analogous to a civil servant transferred from the Admiralty to the War Office or vice versa. There is a very definite reason for the Regulation. In a short-service Army, what we want are men who will serve seven years with the Colours and then five years in the Army Reserve, without becoming pensionable. Men who bring with them on entry a long period of service given in some other force do not make the Reservists we want, but make the pensioners whom, in view of the already very heavy pension charges of the Army, we cannot afford. Such men are therefore taken only on the condition that their previous service will not count. It should be remembered that enlistment is voluntary.
§ Sir W. DAVISONAm I to understand that it is only when the service in the Marines or the Navy has actually terminated that it does not count for a pension?
§ Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYIf the service is continued in any other branch of the service it does not matter.