HC Deb 07 December 1920 vol 135 cc1931-2W
Sir H. CRAIK

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that majors of the Royal Army Medical Corps who, before the issue of the Royal Warrant of September, 1919, were drawing the retired pay of 20 years' service, namely, £365 per annum, are now being unequally treated on reassessment, majors who qualified for service on the West Coast of Africa not being granted the increase given to similar officers who had no service in that climate; and if he will take steps to ensure that this inequality shall be redressed and that all majors of the Royal Army Medical Corps who are entitled to the retired pay of 20 years' service shall be restored to the equality to which they were entitled under the old Warrant and be granted the same increase on reassessment?

Sir A. WILLIAMSON

Officers who served on the West Coast benefit considerably by counting time there as double in calculating their total service for assessment of retired pay as well as in fixing the period when they can retire on retired pay. In so far as the period of service in a particular rank enters into the assessment, however, service on the West Coast is not allowed to count double, and I regret that the rule cannot be modified in the case of the officers in question.

Mr. BRIGGS

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the position as regards the issue of corps pay to Royal Army Service Corps officers referred to in Army Order 324 of 30th September, 1919 and if there is any reason why there should be any change in the issue of corps pay to Royal Army Service Corps officers other than that prevailing before the publication of Army Order 324?

Sir A. WILLIAMSON

The conditions governing the issue of corps pay to officers of the Royal Army Service Corps are at present under consideration.

Forward to