§ Mr. BROOKESasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any decision has been reached with regard to an increase in the retired pay of officers who have been in the Service during the War and have reached the age limit; whether it has already been decided that non-commissioned officers and men who have twenty-one years' service should receive their pension in addition to their pay; and whether officers who were pensioned before the War but who are now serving are receiving both their retired pay as well as the pay of their rank?
§ Mr. FORSTERI would refer my hon. Friend, with regard to the first part of his question, to the answer which I gave on the 19th instant to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Melton, to which I have nothing to add. With regard to the second part, the decision as to non-commissioned officers and men is that, as soldiers were before the Military Service Act, 1916, only liable for an extra year in the event of war, they may have the option of drawing pension after twenty-two years' service with no increase of pension thereafter for further service, or of counting their whole service on ultimate discharge in the assessment of pension. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative in most cases.
§ Captain WRIGHTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the 1119W daily rate of pay of Army chaplains of the honorary rank of captain and major is 10s.; and whether it is proposed to give to such Army chaplains the recent increase of pay given to junior combatant officers or any and what, increase?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe rate of pay of a captain (4th class chaplain) has recently been raised from 10s. to 10s. 6d., rising to 12s. 6d. after five years. A major (2nd class chaplain) receives 15s. 3d. No further increase is contemplated.