§ Mr. HALLAS asked the Postmaster-General whether a Post Office telegraphist who served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from the 20th August, 1916, until the 6th December, 1916, without receiving full civil pay would be entitled to a War gratuity on discharge; and why such a gratuity has been refused to Mr. C. A. Hipwell, of the Post Office staff at Birmingham, official number in the Navy BZ/9,464.
§ Sir J. CRAIG: I have been asked to reply to this question. This man is not eligible for War gratuity for the following reasons: that from 7th December, 1916, to 12th June, 1918, he was in receipt of full civil pay, and that his remaining service, namely, from 21st August, 1916, to 6th December, 1916, when he was not in receipt of full civil pay, is less than six months, without any part of this time having been served at sea or overseas.