Lieut.-Colonel J. WARDasked the Secretary of State for War whether any steps are being taken to remedy the injustice to quartermasters who were previously in receipt of the rate of pay for 15 years' commissioned service, and were given, during the War, an extra rate of pay for distinguished service in the field, and who, by the wording of the new Royal Warrant for pay, issued with Army Order No. 324 of 1918, are now compelled to draw the same rate of pay as if they had never been on active service at all; and, if not, whether, in view of this extra rate of pay having been given in lieu of an active service decoration, it is the intention of the Government to issue a decoration in cases where this extra rate of pay has been taken away?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONArmy Order 324 of 1919, while increasing the emoluments, altered the scale and provided that the maximum rate of pay for length of service should be attained after 15 years' service. Any step in pay given as a reward became merged in this rate just as it had done under the old scale after 20 years' service. This situation is inseparable from 2617W a scale that provides a maximum rate. The maximum for length of service having been reduced from 20 years to 15 years, it follows that the situation referred to occurs at an earlier date than before, but the principle is unaltered. There is no intention of varying the scale and conditions laid down in the Army Order. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.