HC Deb 26 July 1944 vol 402 c756
40. Flight-Lieutenant Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make any statement as to whether serving officers will receive any gratuity or bonus on leaving the Services at the termination of the war; what form such gratuity or bonus will take; and whether officers now being compulsorily retired to make way for younger men will share in such award.

Mr. A. Henderson

I regret I am not yet in a position to make a statement on this subject. Officers who have honourably retired from the Service to make way for younger men would not be precluded from receiving any war gratuity which might be approved.

Mr. Bellenger

As it is obvious that the Government must have some sort of plan to enable my hon. and learned Friend to give that answer, will he make an early announcement, particularly in view of his own statement about an early termination of the war, so that the men in the Services—other ranks as well as officers—will know what they can expect?

Mr. Henderson

I think my hon. Friend had better address that question to other quarters.

Sir Herbert Williams

Could my hon. and learned Friend, as a start, give us a White Paper, which is common form now?