§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that an exceptional share of the burden of mobilisation and demobilisation has fallen upon quartermasters; and whether it is proposed by the Army Council that such men should have been held to continue service under Article 498 of the Royal Warrant, 1914, after reaching the age of retirement and losing the pensions they have earned and being debarred by the existing Regulations from receiving a gratuity in lieu of lost pensions, while their prospect of securing work in civil life has been lessened by their increased age?
Captain GUESTThe position of these officers under Article 498 is quite clear. They cannot be said to have earned retired pay until they have reached the position of being entitled to retire, that is, until the national emergency is over. Most of them have been earning increases to their1420W eventual retired pay, while retained in the Services, while many other officers enjoy no such advantage.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the sense of injustice felt by quartermasters who, having become eligible for a, pension during the course of the war, have been kept to serve on until the conclusion of peace under Article 498 of Royal Warrant, 1914, without receiving a gratuity in lieu of lost pensions; and whether he will see that these officers are paid the pensions and all arrears thereof which they earned by voluntary contract with the State more than twenty-one years ago?
Captain GUESTThe Article referred to lays down explicitly that all officers are liable to be retained beyond the normal age for retirement, during the time of national emergency. In this, their position is different from that of soldiers voluntarily enlisted, whose term of service is limited. Quartermasters when they accepted commissions exchanged the status of a soldier for that of an officer and cannot be treated differently from other officers in this respect.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the desirability of increasing the pensions of quartermasters in accordance with the rise in the cost of living since the outbreak of war?
Captain GUESTNo, Sir. Quartermasters are not in this respect in a different position from other officers.