HC Deb 29 April 1914 vol 61 cc1705-6W
Major ARCHER-SHEE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that whereas military pensions granted in respect of Army service, other than K Company Royal Engineer service, in cases where pensioners become established Post Office telegraphists, are paid in addition to wages and carried beyond the maximum, the military pensions of ex-K Company men are held in abeyance; whether in some cases this leads to a largo monetary advantage during the post-military service in favour of those pensioners who did not serve in K Company; and whether the Treasury are able to introduce legislation for the purpose of giving effect to the recommendations made by the Secretary of State for War, the Postmaster-General, and the recent Select Committee on Post Office servants, namely, that the whole period of service in K Company, where it is followed by established service in the Post Office be treated as Post Office and not military service for the purpose of computing civil pension?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

In the case of telegraphists appointed to established situations in the Post Office after service in the Royal Engineers, any military pensions earned by services in K Company are suspended during their civil service, because their service in that company is reckoned for the purpose of fixing their initial pay in the Post Office. I am not aware that this arrangement leads to the result suggested. As regards the last part of the question, I beg to refer to the reply of my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight on the 20th instant.