§ Mr. CAREWasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider the position of dental surgeons, who are now refused any gratuity on leaving the service though their pay is only £1 per day and no bonus; and whether dental officers can be given the same treatment as medical or veterinary officers in this respect even though they have not the right to demand it?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer given to-day to a similar question put by the hon. Member for Ripon.
§ Major NEWTONasked the Secretary of State for War if any short paper is obtainable which shows the scale of gratuities to which non-commissioned officers and men of, respectively, the Regular and New Armies are entitled on account of their service during the present War; and, if no such paper exists, will he cause a concise statement to be prepared and circulated to Members?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe statement originally circulated, which appears in the Official Report for the 20th November, 1918, shows the general scope of the gratuity. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the Army Order promulgating the Royal Warrant, which fully explains the details.
§ Major NEWTONasked the Secretary of State for War what is the amount of the gratuity to which a corporal of the Royal Army Service Corps who has served since 4th January, 1915, and has been overseas since 12th May, 1918, is now entitled?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAssuming that the whole of his service qualifies for the gratuity a corporal who joined the Colours 425W on 4th January, 1915, and is still serving, would in the circumstances mentioned have earned a gratuity of £25 10s.
§ Major NALLasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is now in a position to reply to the letter addressed to him on 30th January last regarding the deduction of Service gratuity from war gratuity; and whether he is aware that the practice is contrary to an undertaking given by the late Lord Kitchener to ex-Service men who were asked to re-enlist for the purpose of training the New Armies?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLA reply was sent to the hon. and gallant Member's letter on 28th February, and I hope that this will sufficiently explain the situation to him.