§ 26. Sir EVAN JONESasked the Secretary of State for War whether, under Army Order 325, of 1919, pre-War pensioners employed by the Crown, and who-were refused permission to join the Colours in the late War on the ground of indispensability, cannot have their pensions reassessed; whether he is aware that the late Lord Kitchener issued a letter, which was posted up in the Army Ordnance establishments, to the effect that men serving in such establishments who were retained as indispensable were doing military duty equal in every way to those serving at the front; and whether, in view of this, he will give instructions-that Army Order 325 shall be amended so that the pensions of those men who were desirous of re-enlisting but were prevented from doing so shall be reassessed in the same way as those who re-enlisted?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSON (Parliamentary Secretary, War Office)Reassessment of pension is limited by the Royal Warrant to men who gave satisfactory re-enlisted service, and I regret it is not possible to depart from the general rule.
§ Sir E. JONESMay I ask whether the term "re-enlistment" in the Army Order could not be construed so as to include the case of those men who applied to be re-enlisted but were refused permission and retained in Government employment, especially in view of the terms of the late Lord Kitchener's letter referred to.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe question had been fully considered, and it was not found possible to alter the decision come to.