§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Secretary of State for War whether, under Army Order No. 324, of 1919, Table XVI., all officers mentioned in the Order can elect to retire on the scale of retired pay laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 on completion of 15 or more years' qualifying service; and whether he is aware that officers who have applied to retire under the above provisions have had their applications refused by the heads of Departments and been informed that only a gratuity is payable?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe number of years' service after which voluntary retirement with retired pay is permitted varies in different branches of the Service, and is not the same for all the branches mentioned in paragraph 3 of Table XVI, Army Order 324 of 1919. As pointed out in paragraph 6 of Table XVI, the Regulations on this point remain as before the issue of the Army Order in question. My hon. and learned Friend possibly refers to the case of officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Army Veterinary Corps who are not permitted to retire voluntarily with retired pay until they have completed 20 years' commissioned service, a scale of gratuities being provided in the Royal Warrant for2236W Pay, etc., of the Army, 1914, for retirement before the completion of 20 years' commissioned service.