§ Lieutenant-Colonel SPENDER CLAYasked the Secretary of State for War how the gratuity is calculated for equipment of officers who joined as such prior to the issue in 1916 of H.C. 1 193; and whether these officers are entitled under their contract to the gratuity as laid down in Article 226 of the Pay Warrant?
§ Major-General SEELYArmy Council Instruction 193, of 1916, was issued with a view to making clear which officers of the Special Reserve of the Royal Flying Corps were entitled to gratuity under Article 226 of the Army Pay Warrant. At the time this Article was framed the appointment of "equipment officer" did not exist, and the special gratuity of £150 per annum provided under it was designed only for flying officers and not for those engaged on ground duties. Officers appointed as equipment officers accordingly have no contract entitling them to gratuity under Article 226 B, but they are eligible, under Article 497(b) of the Pay Warrant, for gratuities of 124 days' pay for the first year and 62 days' pay for each further year, or part of a year, of service, based, subject to certain conditions, on the highest rate of pay they have drawn at any time during their service.