§ 16. Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for War whether Army reservists enlisted into the Royal Artillery before October, 1925, and not possessing a second-class certificate of education, are entitled to draw war proficiency pay, if otherwise qualified, similarly to those soldiers called up under the National Service Act, for whom no educational test is required?
§ Mr. LawIn view of their more favourable conditions of service, it was decided that war-time proficiency pay should not be granted to soldiers serving on the pre-1925 rates of pay, who would continue to be eligible for proficiency pay under peace-time conditions. Soldiers serving on the pre-1925 scale were, however, given the option of coming on to the post-1925 scale in any case where, as a result of the introduction of war-time proficiency pay, the latter scale was more favourable to them than their existing scale.
§ Mr. BellengerWhen a soldier elects to remain on the pre-1925 conditions, must he still have a second-class certificate of education in order to enable him to draw proficiency pay?
§ Mr. LawYes, Sir. When he elects to stay on the pre-1925 conditions, I imagine that is so, but he will only elect to do so because it is to his advantage.
§ Mr. BellengerWill the hon. Gentleman look at Article 1015 of the Pay Warrant, which rather indicates that during the war the second-class certificate of education is not necessary? Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will be good enough to write to me about this.