HC Deb 19 February 1920 vol 125 cc1074-5W
Mr. SAMUEL SAMUEL

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a quartermaster in the Regular Army who retired before the War and rejoined at the beginning of the War, and continued to serve until the demobilisation, is permitted to count his war service with his past service in the Regular Army for fixing his rate of retired pay, in the event of his paying back all the retired pay he received whilst serving during the War; is he aware that there is very bitter feeling amongst officers and men who-joined up on the question of retired pay; and can any consideration be given to the officers and men under these circumstances?

Sir A. WILLIAMSON

Under the Regulations officers on retired pay re-employed during the War continued to draw their retired pay in addition to the full pay of the post, and did not count the additional service towards an increase of their retired pay. It would be quite impossible to reverse these Regulations to-day, and to require all such officers to refund the retired pay received during the War. It would be equally out of the question to deal with individual cases by themselves. All officers so re-employed receive the benefit of the Regulations recently promulgated under which their retired pay is reassessed. This reassessment as a rule amounts to a considerable increase in the rate.