§ Kr. SNELLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that young men who were employed in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich at the time the War broke out in 1914 are being informed that they are ineligible for the bonus on civil pay; that those who volunteered in the early days of the War are regarded as having discharged themselves from their work; that others are disqualified because they enlisted under the Military Service Act, and a third class because they arrived at enlistment age during the progress of the War; and will he have this matter inquired into and instructions issued which will end the present confusion stating precisely who are and who are not entitled to receive the bonus?
§ Captain KINGThe decision of the Government, approved by this House, does not operate now to extend balance of civil pay to classes not formerly eligible,642W but merely involves a re-assessment so as to include war bonus in the case of certain single men (being volunteers) where not already included. A Notice, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, indicating the classes of employés eligible under the Government decision for re-assessment of balance of civil pay-so as to include war bonus, was promulgated at the ordnance factories on 12th February. I am not clear that there is need for any further instructions. Should any individual whose claim has been rejected not understand the reason, he can, of course, obtain an explanation on applying in the usual manner to the factory officials.