§ Mr. PIELOUasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware of the unrest among the troops of the British Army at the premature discharge, without pension, of soldiers serving on a 21 years' engagement; and whether he will give an undertaking that such discharges will cease and that modified pensions will be paid to those who have already been discharged;
(2) whether, in view of the hardship to certain soldiers serving on a 21 years' pensionable engagement in that these men of exemplar,' character have been discharged forthwith without pension, he will issue instructions to recruiting officers to warn intending recruits that no career in the British Army or pension can be guaranteed to them, even after their being permitted to re-engage to complete 21 years' service?
§ Captain KINGI presume my hon Friend is referring to the discharges consequent on the reduction of the Corps of Military Accountants. The contingency of men serving on a 21 years' engagement being discharged on reduction of establishment is provided for in the Pay Warrant; they can be granted 1993W modified pensions only if they have 14 years' service of which 10 years must be qualifying service. I regret that modified pensions cannot be given to those who are not so qualified, but they will receive the same special compensation terms which were granted in connection with the reductions in the Army in 1922. It is with great reluctance and only under pressure of public necessity that a soldier's service is curtailed; but neither the Army nor any other public service can guarantee absolute security of tenure, and it is for this reason that it is stated on every soldier's attestation form and on the form of agreement to reengage that he will be allowed to serve the full period only provided that his services shall so long be required.