§ 26. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can state the number of reservists who have protested against their reserve pay being reduced from Is. a day to 9d. a day?
§ Mr. COOPERNo such protests have been received in the War Office.
§ 29. Mr. McENTEEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the cuts of 25 per cent. in reserve pay apply to all Army reservists; and whether he will reconsider the matter with a view to minimising the hardships caused by such cuts?
§ Mr. COOPERThe reduction in reserve pay applies to all reservists, but in the case of Section A reservists the reduction is not 25 per cent. but from Is. 6d. to 1s. 3d. a day. I regret that I am unable to reconsider the matter.
§ Mr. McENTEEMay I ask whether the same percentage is applied in the case of officers as in that of the noncommissioned officers and men?
§ Mr. COOPERI must have notice of that question.
Mr. BUCMANANWhy is it that these men have been singled out for a 25 per cent. reduction seeing that there was to be some basis of equality in the reductions? Why is not the same percentage applied to these men as is applied in the case of teachers?
§ Mr. COOPERThese men are required to do no service whatever in return for their pay, and it was considered that this sacrifice in regard to them was not more than they could bear, and, as we have received no protest, that is borne out by the result.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEWere not these cuts made by a Free Trade Budget?
§ Mr. McENTEEIs it not the case that a contract was entered into with these men for the period of their service and the period of their reserve, and should they not have been consulted before a cut so drastic was made?
§ Mr. COOPERThat would apply to every cut that was made. There was no contract.