§ Major HURSTasked the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the delay experienced by officers in obtaining payment of their war gratuities after demobilisation, he will consider the advisability of dating all War Savings Certificates allotted in part payment of such gratuities with the dates of the dispersal certificates of the said officers instead of the dates of their actual delivery to them?
Captain GUESTI am afraid it is true that there has been delay in a large number of cases, but I am assured that the agents, who have had great difficulties to contend with, are taking all possible steps to overtake the arrears. To introduce a new feature at this stage, which would necessarily involve its application to past cases, and other complications, would have the result of further increasing the delay, while the financial effect in any individual case would be unimportant. I do not, therefore, propose to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.
§ Mr. IRVINGasked the Secretary of State for War whether many of the men in L Company of the Royal Engineers served in the Royal Engineers (Signals) during the South African War; whether they received full civil and military pay, together 56W with all gratuities on discharge; whether they had a right to expect a continuance of these terms when they left for France in 1914; whether the Army Council Instruction issued in May, 1917, was made retrospective and cancelled the service gratuity so far as these men are concerned; whether the War Office authorities were subsequently advised that the withholding of such gratuities was illegal; and whether, having regard to the terms of enlistment and to the precedent created during the South African War, he will issue instructions that the war gratuity shall be paid to all men in combatant units?