HC Deb 04 June 1919 vol 116 cc2024-5W
Mr. F. ROBERTS

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether ex-telegraph battalion men who are subsequently appointed to the Post Office have a sum deducted from their civil pay in order to counterbalance the military pensions which have been earned with the telegraph battalion; whether men who enlisted in the telegraph battalion for a period not qualifying for military pension and who were employed on civil work in the Post Office are not allowed to count this service for civil pension despite the promise on enlistment and the verdict of the Holt Committee; and whether, in view of the fact that the Government are taking the advantage both ways, he will have this policy reconsidered?

Mr. BALDWIN

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question on this subject of the 23rd ultimo, which contained a full explanation of the position.

Captain A. SMITH

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any man in the telegraph battalion who passed a manipulative test while still serving with the Colours was supplied with a list of post offices from which he was allowed to choose the town most suitable to him; whether immediately a choice was made the man's name was placed on the establishment at that office; whether at the completion of his Colour service he was sent to the office of his choice, and his appointment was confirmed; whether this earmarking of appointments is different to the position with regard to any other class of soldier, and does not help to constitute a claim that the military and civil service were continuous and, in fact, one?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The position is substantially as stated by the hon. and gallant Member in regard to military telegraphists serving in K Company of the Royal Engineers. The conditions of the military service of these men are, however, different from the conditions of their subsequent civil service, and I cannot agree that the whole service is continuous and, in fact, one.