Lieut.-Colonel SPENDER CLAYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that divisional paymasters of the Ryoal Marines, who were specially promoted in August, 1918, to the rank of lieutenant-colonel on the half-pay list and received' the pay of that rank for good and distinguished service, now under the new rates of pay for naval and military officers-only receive the pay of a major although holding the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel, thus depriving them of the benefit they received for services during the War; and whether these officers should be granted the pay and emoluments of their rank and appointment on account of their special promotion for good services and their very arduous and responsible work during the War?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAPrevious to August, 1918, these officers were in, receipt of a salary as paymaster, together with half-pay as major of 9s. 6d. a day. In August, 1918, they were given the rank of lieutenant-colonel, without increase to their salary as paymaster or to their rate of retired pay, but with increased half-pay of 11s. 8d.a day. Under the new Rules for pay, they receive full pay according to their seniority as major, in addition to such allowances as are applicable, and are eligible for the rank of lieutenant-colon el, without additional emoluments, after twelve years' service as major. Their pre sent emoluments vary from £439 to £414 1111W per annum in excess of their previous emoluments, and it is not considered that a case exists for increasing their pay still further.