§ 44. Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now consider relaxing the regulations which prevent Regular officers who held commissions prior to 1939 from exercising the right to retire, which was a condition of their original engagement.
§ Mr. BellengerRetirement is now already allowed in certain cases and the ban on retirement is being progressively lifted. At present regular substantive lieutenant-colonels and majors may retire or resign on reaching the age limit of their corps as laid down in the Army Pay Warrant. Individual compassionate cases are treated on their merits.
§ Mr. SpenceWill the right hon. Gentleman give further consideration to this matter, because there are many younger officers who want to make their way in life and who do not know when they will get out, and who are not being released?
§ Mr. BellengerI should have thought that the younger officers would still have a good time to serve in their military careers.