Mr. BECKETTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the position of men who rejoin the fighting services after a breach of five years with regard to service pay; and, if recruiting officers are authorised to use the inducement of service pay, where this inducement has been wrongly used, will the promise of the recruiting officer be honoured?
§ Captain KINGI presume the hon. Member is referring to proficiency pay which was substituted for service pay in 1906. The conditions of issue of proficiency pay were amended by Army Order 325 of 1919. A man re-enlisting after the amendment was made is not entitled to draw proficiency pay unless and until he satisfies the new conditions, but his previous service, whatever the length of the break in his service, counts towards the period required under the new conditions. If the hon. Member will bring to my notice any case where a promise of proficiency pay is stated to have been wrongly made, I will have it inquired into.