Lieut.-Colonel MALONEasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, under the present Regulations concerning disablement pensions, officers of the Reserve are classified as Regular officers in that they receive £100 per annum for 100 per cent. disability, plus their retired pay, but, unlike Regular officers, are not entitled to count their war service towards their retired pay; and whether it is proposed to revise the Regulations with a view to placing officers of the Reserve on a similar standing to that of officers of similar rank in the Regular forces, seeing that the cost of living applies equally in both cases?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe hon. and gallant Member is mistaken in thinking that, under the existing Warrant, these officers do not, if disabled through war service, reckon their whole service, including service in the War. Their retired pay is re-assessed on their whole service, and the disablement addition at the rate of £100 for 100 per cent. disablement is added; but, if disablement ceases, they revert to the service retired pay of which they were formerly in receipt. Under the Army Order 324, of 13th September, 1919, such officers, if in receipt2410W of service retired pay, have it re-assessed by the War Office on the new scale therein laid down, but only previous service reckons, and, under the proposals of the Select Committee as approved by the Government, this re-assessed retired pay will form the basis of assessment for disability retired pay, with an addition at the increased rate of £150 for 100 per cent. disablement. The method of calculation under the 1917 Warrant will, however, be substituted in any case in which it is found to be more favourable.