HC Deb 22 December 1919 vol 123 cc1086-7W
Mr. R. RICHARDSON

asked the Post master-General whether the non-commissioned officers and men who are employed at General Headquarters, Great Britain. have been in receipt of full Post Office pay as volunteers since the date on which they became demobilisable; what is the total of such payments to his Department and what is the total additional cost incurred in substituting these men whilst they are absent from their civilian employment, and whether, in view of the great possibilities of economy, he will recommend to the military authorities that a civilian staff should be re-employed at this office, as is the case at the War Office and the Admiralty?

Mr. PEASE

Post Office servants in the Royal Engineers Signal Section whose demobilisation is deferred at the instance of the Army authorities to a date not later than the 30th April, 1920, remain under the same conditions as those in force during the War,i.e., they draw full civil pay (but not war bonus) in addition to military pay. The manner in which such men are distributed is entirely a question for the War Office, and I have no knowledge of the number employed at General Headquarters.

Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the members of the Post Office staff who served in special sections of the Royal Engineers as signallers did not during their service receive full civil pay, inasmuch as the war bonuses paid as part of civil pay were not paid to them, these men will receive the full war gratuity, not only the much smaller service gratuity?

Mr. BALDWIN

I am not prepared to make the particular concession proposed. But the Treasury are ready to adopt certain measures which I hope will afford a satisfactory settlement of any cases of genuine hardship owing to the previous Government decision. Time is required, however, to work out the details of application in consultation with the Post Office and War Office, and I must therefore ask my Noble Friend to allow me to defer making a full announcement for the moment.