§ Colonel R. PEEL asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that officers of between 8 and 15 years' service, retired from the Regular Army before the War, have not only had no increase of any kind made to their pensions, but have actually suffered pecuniary loss owing to their previous service, as the annual War gratuity paid them is assessed at 31 days' pay, whereas officers joining for the first time during the War receive 124 days' pay as gratuity for the first year and 62 days' pay for each subsequent year; and whether, under these circumstances, he is prepared to allow officers with temporary pensions, on refunding any portion of the pension already drawn from the State, to count their years' service in the War, together with their previous service in the Regular Army, for permanent pension, which becomes payable when the total service reaches 15 years?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSON: To introduce the principle of allowing War service in such cases to be added to former service, and so reckoned for retired pay, would have far-reaching consequences, not confined to these officers, and I regret that I cannot adopt the suggestion.