§ Mr. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary for War if he will state the reason for refusing proficiency pay at the rate of 6d. per diem to non-commissioned officers who are members of the National Reserve and were full sergeants under the old Volunteer system, and who have joined the Army in response to the appeal of the military authorities to act as sergeant instructors and have so acted; will he state why payment for the same service should only be made to men who have formerly served in the Regular Army or the Territorial Force, though no more efficient than members of the old Volunteer companies; have any payments been made to any such ex-Volunteer non-commissioned officer in respect of such services; if so, are any steps being taken to obtain repayment of such moneys, and by what means?
Mr. BAKERI would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for North Somerset and the hon. Member for Brentford on the 21st and 29th April respectively, copies of which I will send to him.