§ 74. Mr. HOHLERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, since the outbreak of War, the number of specially enlisted clerks in the Army Pay Corps, has been increased from about 800 to 6,000; that meanwhile there has been little or no promotion in the ranks of the warrant and non-commissioned officers of the corps; that the peace establishment of assistant paymasters, honorary lieutenants, in the Army Pay Corps is 58; that their present number is only 50, whilst the honorary commissions in the Army Service Corps have been increased by 128, in the Royal Army Medical Corps by 54, in the Army Ordnance Corps by 99 over their peace establishments; and will he take like steps to increase the number of assistant paymasters and thus enable promotion in the lower ranks and remove the feeling of dissatisfaction that now prevails?
Mr. BAKERThe facts are not quite as stated. Since the outbreak of War, the number of promotions to commissioned rank has been more than 50 per cent. of the establishment of warrant officers; the promotions (including acting appointments) to warrant rank have been 15 per cent. of the establishment of staff sergeants, and those to staff sergeants have been 25 per cent. of the total establishment of lower ranks. The establishment of fifty-eight assistant paymasters is of recent creation, and was to be gradually filled as the senior officers retired, a 1264 process that would have occupied some years. Twenty-five assistant paymasters have been commissioned during the War, and only five promotions remain to be made.
§ Mr. HOHLERWill the hon. Gentleman say whether or not there has been an increase in the number of assistant-paymasters? I could not hear his answer.
§ Mr. HOHLERIt is there; but I could not hear the hon. Gentleman's answer. I asked him whether there is any increase in the number of assistant-paymasters?
§ Mr. HOHLERMay I read it?
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERThere are so many questions still on the Paper that perhaps the hon. and learned Gentleman will see his answer in print, and then, if any further inquiries are needed, he will make them.
§ Mr. HOHLEROn a point of Order. Am I not entitled to an answer to a question which is on the Paper?
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERThe hon. and learned Member has had an answer, which he will see on the records if he did not catch its purport.
§ Mr. HOHLERThis part of the question was not answered, and I submit I am entitled to an answer. The question was not answered—it is on the Paper, and I propose to read it. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order."]
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYIs the House still under martial law?
§ Mr. HOHLERIt is the last part: "that the peace establishment of assistant paymasters, honorary lieutenants, in the Army Pay Corps is 58; that their present number is only 50, and will he take like steps to increase the number of assistant paymasters and thus enable promotion in the lower ranks and remove the feeling of dissatisfaction that now prevails?"
§ Sir A. MARKHAMWill the Chancellor of the Exchequer ask these Under-Secretaries to speak up, because their voices are quite inaudible?