§ Rear-Admiral ADAIRasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an officer who was due to retire during the course of the War but who was kept on serving counts such kept-on time for increase in pension; whether officers who had retired prior to the War and who were called out to serve do not count such called-out time for similar increase of pension and, if not, why; and whether the 25 per cent. of their pension paid in addition to their service rate of pay in the case of the latter officers during the time they served was intended merely as compensation for disturbance, etc., and has no bearing whatever on the question as to counting the called-out time for increase in pension?
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§ Mr. LONGThe answer to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is that an officer who was due to retire during the War, but who was kept on, is at liberty to count such kept-on time for increase of pension, in accordance with pre-war regulations, if it is to his advantage. Alternatively, he may, under the concession recently granted to these officers, as the result of a recommendation of the Officers' Pay Committee, receive a bonus of 25 per cent. on his full pay in lieu of counting such kept-on time for increase of pension. Officers retired before the War, on the other hand, are only entitled to receive the bonus of 25 per cent. on their full pay in lieu of counting their service for increase of retired pay. The 25 per cent. bonus is calculated on the full pay of an officer's rank on the retired list and not upon his pension. It is granted in lieu of counting service for increase of retired pay, and is not in the nature of compensation for disturbance. This has been clearly stated in the regulations governing cases of retired officers called up.