§ 75. Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether a ranker officer with a total service of 25 years and qualifying service of 16 years, and commissioned service of six years, during which he held the rank of major for three years, is only entitled to a pension of £165 per annum without any gratuity, whereas a ranker officer with a total service of 15 years, and qualifying service of nine years, and a commissioned service of three years, of which he held the rank of major for six months, is entitled to a pension of £150 per annum with a gratuity of £200; and, if so, whether he will take any steps to remove this disparity of treatment?
§ Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYI gather that the first officer is to be understood not to hold the substantive rank of major. If he did, his retired pay would be not £165 but £201. As-he was commissioned during the War, he has the choice between the normal scale of retired pay, as stated in the question, and the special scale for those so commissioned. Under the latter, he would be entitled to the same retired pay and gratuity as the second officer, which is the maximum of the scale. It is not proposed to take any further action.
§ Viscount WOLMERDoes my hon. Friend think it fair that a man with 10 years' more service should have practically the same pension as the junior man?
§ Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYWhen both officers have earned the maximum pension and there is an overriding maximum, there is no possibility of avoiding it.