43. Miss Wardasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether, after considering evidence of objection to the Stabilisation Order, 1935, and in view of the fact that his statement made in July last, that there was no opposition to the Order was not correct, he will now reconsider the position of retired officers' pay.
§ Mr. BirchThe evidence of objection with which the hon. Lady has furnished me consists of a copy of a letter written by a retired Captain (R.N.), whose name has not been disclosed. The evidence that the great majority of officers in receipt of retired pay were in favour of stabilisation when it was carried out in 1935 is more substantial. I hope to be able to make a statement next week.
Miss WardDoes the hon. Gentleman not consider that it would have been more gracious to have said that the evidence had been supplied, and is he suggesting that we ought to disclose the names of ex-serving officers, because that is a new departure and I am rather horrified at the tone of my hon. Friend's statement.
§ Mr. BirchI always try to be gracious, particularly where the hon. Lady is concerned, and I do not think my answer was discourteous.