§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has recently considered or intends to reconsider the case for increase of pre-war Service pensions; and whether, in view of the 50 per cent. increase in old age pensions and the very general increase of wages, in addition to war bonus, in all classes of employment, officers and men who served the country in previous wars and retired on pension prior to 1914 are alone to be debarred from receiving an increase of pension commensurate with the rise in the cost of living?
§ Mr. FORSTERDecision in these matters rests not with the War Office but with the Government. The decision recently announced on the Report of Admiral Jerram's Committee on sailors' pensions may be taken as indicating the limits within which an increase of soldiers' pensions is likely to be approved. As regards officers' retired pay no decision has yet been reached.