§ 5. Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to pay the appropriate wage rates to members of the Armed Forces who are called upon to assist in civilian industry?
§ Captain MargessonI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. Ellis Smith) by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, on 23rd October.
§ Mr. BellengerAs I missed that Answer, would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman be good enough to tell me the purport of it?
§ Captain MargessonThe Answer said:
In those cases of emergency in which military units have to be employed the conditions in regard to pay are those laid down in the Royal Warrant."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 23rd October, 1941; col. 1879, Vol. 374.]In answer to another Question on the same day, I explained that the employment of soldiers on work of this kind was performed as a military duty and they continued to receive their normal military emoluments as for any other duty.
§ Mr. BellengerIn view of that Answer, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider advising the Government to make some change. It seems grossly unfair to employ conscripted labour in civilian industry upon Army rates of pay.
§ Captain MargessonI cannot agree that there is any injustice. On the contrary, I think that it would give rise to injustice if soldiers selected for this work were given civilian rates of pay.