§ Colonel RAWSONasked the Secretary for War whether he will explain why the men in the departmental corps, A.S.C., A.O.C., R.E., R.A.M.C., A.P.C., and A.V.C., cannot draw proficiency pay on ceasing to be eligible for service pay on re-engagement; and whether he can see his way to grant them proficiency pay, and thereby retain the use of the best clerks and technically-trained non-commissioned officers and men by encouraging them to re-engage instead of getting untrained recruits?
§ Mr. HALDANEService pay, which was an inducement to men to extend their periods of service with the colours, is no longer given because the period of original enlistment of men is now considered sufficient. The men of the corps named receive extra pay for their proficiency in the shape of corps or engineer pay, and there is no ground for giving them proficiency pay in addition.