§ Captain HACKINGasked the Secretary of State for War whether the periods during which soldiers are engaged onagricultural work count towards gratuities on discharge; if not, whether the soldiers so employed were notified that such periods would not count; and, if they were not so notified, can he see his way to give the necessary instructions that these periods shall be taken into consideration when assessing the amounts of gratuities?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAny period beyond three months during which a soldier is employed on agricultural work does not reckon towards war gratuity to which, I understand, my hon. and gallant Friend to refer. This condition was made known at the time that the gratuity was authorised.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel POWNALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether a. gratuity equivalent to that granted to temporary commissioned officers, under paragraphs 496/7 of the Royal Pay Warrant, and a war bonus equivalent to that granted to officers of the Army of Occupation, under Army Orders 54/19 and 55/19 as. amplified by Army Order VI., dated l5th February, 1919, are to be granted to acting 2273W paymasters; and, if such gratuities and/or war bonuses are not being granted, if he will state the reasons?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThose acting paymasters who are commissioned officers and are retained in the Army of Occupation receive the bonus under the Army Orders of 1919. As regards gratuities under paragraph 497 of the Pay Warrant, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the written reply which I gave on the 4th instant to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich (West), to the effect that the question whether it may be possible to give them some form of gratuity on completion of their service is being considered.