§ Brigadier-General COLVINasked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds a decision has been given by the Assistant Financial Secretary to the War Office, dated 23rd March, 1920, that the county and group adjutants of the Volunteer Force are now eligible for a gratuity under Article 497, Pay Warrant, in respect of such appointment, having regard to paragraph 2 (7) of the Schedule of the Royal Warrant (Army Order 437), 1919, of 29th December, 1919; and whether an officer on retired pay who has been given a commission as county adjutant of the Volunteer Force ceases, on accepting such appointment, to be an officer within the meaning of paragraph 2 (7) of the Schedule to the Royal Warrant of 29th December, 1919?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe conditions attaching to the gratuity under Army Order 437 of 1919 are similar to those attaching to the gratuity under Article 497, Royal Warrant for Pay. Adjutants of the Volunteer Force are precluded from gratuity, not because they may draw special rates of pay, but because of the nature of their appointments.