4. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Labour, in view of his decision not to count any period of men's temporary release from the Services for work of national importance for demobilisation purposes or assessment of gratuity, if he will state how, as these men are in fact Service personnel, they are to have their demobilisation groups and gratuities assessed.
§ Mr. BevinBoth their age and service release groups and their war gratuities will be assessed by reference to their whole-time service in the Armed Forces since 3rd September, 1939, which counts for Service pay.
Miss WardWhat is my right hon. Friend going to do about those people who have been attached to the Ministry of Economic Warfare?
Miss WardIs my right hon. Friend not aware that it is because of those people that I put down the Question?
§ Mr. BevinThere is no indication in the Question that the Ministry of Economic Warfare was referred to. I did not know what the hon. Member meant.
7. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that any Service personnel temporarily released for work of national importance while serving abroad will be entitled to have such service assessed for purposes of demobilisation and gratuity.
Miss WardWill my right hon. Friend relate Question 4 to that answer, and say how those people are going to have their gratuities assessed when they are not regarded as being borne on the War Office Vote?
§ Mr. BevinIf they are in civil employment, and getting civil pay, periods of release are not assessed for war service. Otherwise, they would be paid twice.
Miss WardWhat is to happen to people serving abroad, who are temporarily released in order to do war work of that sort?
§ Mr. BevinI understand that the hon. Member is asking about people who are temporarily in civil employment, and who are receiving civil rates of pay while they are so released. If they are getting civil rates of pay, periods of release are not assessed for war service.