85. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether, as a result of the special efforts being made to find suitable employment for the temporary officers of the Corps of Military Accountants, he will state the number of officers for whom suitable employment has been found by the War Office, and the number still unemployed?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSAs a result of War Office action, two of the temporary officers of the Corps of Military Accountants have been found employment, and in three other cases negotiations are still pending; four others are known to have found employment independently. The War Office have no information as to employment having been found by the remaining seven.
§ 89. Colonel ENGLANDasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in abolishing the Corps of Military Accountants non-commissioned officers of long service are being discharged with one week's pay for each year's service; whether his attention has been called to one specific case where the man's extension of Service to 21 years had been approved though he is now being dismissed; and whether he will consider either allowing him to transfer to some other corps or giving him a pro rate pension for his completed service?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI regret that it has been necessary to discharge a number of men who had re-engaged to complete 21 years but had not completed 14 years' service, the minimum for which pension is payable. A gratuity has been awarded to these men proportionate to their unexpired service; it is not possible to give a pension. If the hon. and gallant Member will send me particulars of the case in question, I will see whether transfer to another arm is possible, but I cannot hold out much hope as this question has already received consideration.
§ Mr. J. JONESAre the posters that appear upon the walls asking men to join the Army to be taken as scraps of paper?