§ Major HURSTasked the Secretary of State for War whether masseuses of the military massage service are entitled to receive gratuities on the termination of war service; and, if not, why there should be any differentiation between them and other nursing sisters?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThis subject was dealt with on more than one occasion last session. I can only confirm the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil by my predecessor on the 24th November, which was as follows:—War gratuities, broadly speaking, are given to commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers, and are not given to the very large numbers of civilians, men and women, who in various ways worked for the Army during the war. An exception to this rule was made in the case of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service and other staff performing similar duties, for special reasons and in accordance with precedent; but after very full consideration I am not prepared to extend this exception.