§ 43. Sir W. Smithersasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why naval officers who did not retire until the 1st September, 1950, should get a higher rate of retired pay than officers who had to return to the retired list in November, 1945.
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasI have nothing to add to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Watkinson) on 20th November last.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the First Lord aware that a grave sense of injustice exists among the members of the pre-1945 category, and that that category has much more difficulty in obtaining alternative employment on account of their age.
§ Mr. ThomasThe new system was introduced to stimulate recruiting. As far as the officers mentioned in the hon. Member's Question are concerned, they, of course, cannot be considered, as the Prime Minister said, in isolation from the position of other State pensioners.