HC Deb 08 March 1927 vol 203 cc1018-9
13. Major MALONE

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the regulation under which an officer of the quartermaster class, who has attained the rank of major but who is compulsorily retired under the age limit before he has served one complete year in the rank, is causing considerable hardship in many cases to such officers, whose promotion depends not, as in the case of other officers, on a vacancy in the rank, but on the completion of a specified period of service; that it is possible for an officer of this class to have served from 37 to 42 years, to have attained the rank of major, and yet, for the lack of a few days required to complete one year in the rank, to be retired with the retired pay granted to lieutenants and captains; that cases can be quoted where the higher rate of retired pay is lost by the inability to serve for one day to complete the year; and that, in consequence, years of commissioned service, although ordinarily allowed to count for retired pay, are unproductive owing to the above-quoted regulation; and whether he is prepared to consider the matter, with a view to the removal of this hardship by amending the regulation, so that these officers shall be granted the retired pay of the rank in which they retire?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Captain Douglas King)

I regret that I am unable to alter the decision given in the reply to my hon. and gallant Friend on 15th February. The fact that promotion is by time and not by establishment affords no ground for making an exception to the general rule.

Major MALONE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that men in this class, for the sake of one day's service, lose as much as £60 or £100 of pension, and does he consider that that is a proper thing?

Captain KING

They are under the same rules and regulations as all other officers in the Army.

Major MALONE

But they do not obtain their promotion till they are well advanced in years and in service.

Captain KING

I am afraid it is impossible to agree to the suggestion.