§ 52. Mr. RONALD M'NEILLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Army Order making it compulsory for soldiers serving at home as well as abroad to make an allotment from their pay for their wives or other dependants, the Order being retrospective, will have the effect in many cases of requiring men to serve till next November for the pay of 1s. a week, when the amount necessary for payment of arrears of allotment shall have been deducted; whether he is aware that soldiers affected by the Order consider it a breach of the conditions under which they enlisted; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
Mr. BAKEREvery endeavour is made to avoid the necessity for large recoveries of arrears, and I am not clear to what class of case the hon. Member is referring. If he will furnish me with particulars of any specific cases I will have inquiries made.