§ Mr. CADOGANasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give favourable consideration to the claims of the civilian acting paymasters who served during the War in the Army Pay Department, in view of the fact that their claim has been upheld in the High Court and has been refused, not on grounds of non-entitlement but of economy?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI have been asked to reply. The hon. and gallant Member is presumably referring to the claim of the civilian acting paymasters to be granted a gratuity for war services. This claim has not been the subject of a decision in the High Court. The issue of the War gratuity was confined by the terms of the Royal Warrants to commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers, and civilian acting paymasters have no entitlement to the gratuity. I can hold out no hope of their claim being1874W entertained. The decision in the High Court dealt with the claim of these gentlemen to pay a reduced rate of Income Tax, under the provisions of the Finance Act, and was based on their performing not commissioned officers' duties but duties of a. military character.