§ Mr. KELLYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his department is now in a position to give effect to the promise contained in A.C.I. 486/1927, concerning the assimilation of the conditions of service of crews of War Department vessels to those obtaining in the Naval Ordnance service in respect to pensions?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI presume that the hon. Member intended to refer to Army Council Instruction 486 of 1917 (not 1927). This Instruction stated that it had been decided to assimilate generally the pay and conditions of service of Masters and Crews of War Department Vessels to those obtaining in the Naval Ordnance Department under the Admiralty, subject to such modifications as were considered necessary in the case of War Department Vessels. The same Instruction laid down that the appointments of Masters (1st Class and 2nd Class) and Engineers 1st Class would be pensionable. This arrangement was given effect to. The Army Council Instruction contained no promise re- 1035W garding pensions for the remainder of the grades employed on War Department Vessels.