Sir F. HALLasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether Post Office employés who joined the Royal Engineers and obtained commissions, carrying out amongst other work that of telegraphist, were granted full civil pay in addition to their Army pay; whether they were given the war bonuses as and when awarded to the men who remained in the civil employment of the Post Office; whether they were granted the gratuity on being demobilised; and, if not, will he state why these bonuses and gratuity were withheld?
(2) whether Post Office employés who joined the Royal Engineers, doing duty as privates or non-commissioned officers, and carried out amongst other work that of telegraphist, were granted full civil pay in addition to their Army pay; whether they were given the war bonuses as and when awarded to the men who remained in the civil employment of the Post Office; whether they were granted the gratuity on being demobilised; and, if not, will he state why these bonuses and gratuity were withheld?
§ Mr. PEASEIn each case, the answer to the first part is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. With regard to the award of gratuities on demobilisation, I must refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Financial Secretary to the War Office to questions on this subject on the 10th of April last. War bonus was not paid, in view of the fact that these officers and men, unlike other Civil698W servants in the Army, were in receipt of full civil pay in addition to their military pay and allowances.