§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for War whether, under the proposed reduction of bounty for the Territorial Force, under future engagements, from £5 earned to £3 1854W earned, a man leaving under present engagement will continue to get £5, whereas if the senior non-commissioned officers or the company sergeant-major re-engage they will only earn £3 as compared with the young soldier on a four years' attestation earning £5; and, if so, whether, since this is likely to result in a tendency for non-commissioned officers who have War service to retire, thereby causing a serious loss of efficiency, the matter can be reconsidered?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSA Territorial soldier who re-engages, whether he be a senior N.C.O. or a young soldier, can do so only under the new conditions as regards bounty. If my hon. and gallant Friend be right in thinking that men will be deterred from re-engaging because others whose re-engagements have not expired are temporarily earning higher bounties, it is to be regretted; but I could not alter the decision without postponing savings in expenditure on the Territorial Army which are urgently required.