asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will extend to postmen who served in the Armed Forces in the 1914–18 war the right to count war service towards pensionable service under the same conditions as it is granted to postmen who served in the 1939–45 war.

No, Sir. They cannot be treated differently from other civil servants in this matter.

If it is considered fair to give to pensioners of the earlier war improvements in war pensions given to soldiers of the last war, why should the same not apply to concessions in regard to pensionable service?

Conditions were different after the last war—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] Things have improved since then. A statutory provision was made in 1935 which allowed temporary civil servants who became established to count their previous service as half. It was thought to be only fair that that should apply to those who served in this last war.