§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether Post Office 348W telegraphists enlisting in the Telegraph Battalion of the Royal Engineers did so in order that this country might be provided with a signal service; whether the men are said to have been told that they would suffer no loss as a result of enlistment; whether he is aware that the claim of the men was adjudicated upon by a Select Committee of the House which reported in their favour, and that all military service performed by Post Office servants during the South African and European Wars has been counted for pension purposes; whether the Lords of the Treasury consider that a definite promise, made as an inducement to enlist, constitutes an equitable claim; and whether the Treasury will reconsider the decision that it is not good policy to carry out this agreement between the K Company men and the Government because of the fear that other persons who received no promise may make a subsequent claim for all military service to count for civil pension?
§ Mr. BALDWINSo far as I am aware no promise was made to the men of K Company that their military service would reckon for civil pension. It is the ease that the Select Committee recommended that it should so reckon, but as I have previously explained the Treasury are not prepared to accept that recommendation.