HC Deb 04 February 1941 vol 368 c782
17. Captain Cunningham-Reid

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Czech soldiers in this country are paid by the Czech or by the British authorities, or both?

Captain Margesson

The expenditure on the pay and maintenance of the Czech Forces is met in the first instance from funds provided by the British Government, and charged to a credit opened by the Treasury in favour of the Czechoslovak Provisional Government. The actual issue of pay to individual Czech soldiers is made by the Czech authorities, except that men in hospital are, for convenience, paid by the British authorities.

Captain Cunningham-Reid

Is it not unfair that English soldiers should receive considerably less pay than Czech soldiers in this country?

Captain Margesson

I have no evidence that that is so. I am informed that the rates of pay have been fixed by agreement between the Czech authorities and the War Office, and that they approximate to British basic rates.