§ Captain BOWYERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the case of the pension of Mr. G. W. Eales, late sergeant-major, Royal Regiment of Artillery; whether Mr. Eales left the service in 1912, after serving twenty-four years, seventeen of which were spent in India and Africa, including the defence of Ladysmith, and was granted a pension of 2s. 5d. a day; that in August, 1914, he 937W tried to rejoin, but was rejected owing to circumstances partly caused by his long service abroad; that in September, 1914, he joined the staff of recruiters, and worked continuously until the end of 1918, under Army officers and Army discipline, and drawing Army pay; that during his two years of recruiting he raised upwards of 3,000 recruits; whether Mr. Eales, on application for the re-assessment of his pre-war pension, was informed that he was not entitled to any such increase, as he did not re-enlist; and whether, in view of this man's record before and during the War, and in view of the services he rendered on the staff of recruiters, he will issue instructions for the pension of this man to be re-assessed?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am afraid I cannot make any exception to the rule that only re-enlisted pensioners can have their pensions re-assessed.