§ 30. Lieut.-Colonel GAULTasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that an officer or man may serve by transfer or re-enlistment in the armed forces of two or more Empire countries for a total period of years exceeding that which qualifies for pension without being eligible to receive pension; and whether he will consult with the Service Departments of His Majesty's Governments in the United Kingdom and in the Dominions, with the object of coming to an arrangement whereby such persons will receive pensions paid for pro rata by the countries they have served?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)In cases where officers or men of the forces of one part of the Empire are lent, seconded or transferred, for service reasons, to those of another part, I am not aware of any special difficulty having arisen in practice. As regards purely voluntary transfers and re-enlistments, it has been found impracticable to treat the service as continuous for pension purposes, and I do not feel that any good purpose would therefore be served by action on the lines suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.