HC Deb 17 February 1920 vol 125 cc689-90
36. Colonel YATE

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, considering that officers of the British service while prisoners of war in Germany drew full pay of their rank plus allowances during the whole time of their imprisonment, why officers of the Indian Army while prisoners of war should be given full pay and allowances for only the first two months, and after the expiry of that time should be deprived of half their staff allowances; and, as there is no provision for such deprivation in the Indian Army regulations, will he now put a stop to this differentiation between the two services and refund the money arbitrarily withheld?

Sir A. WILLIAMSON

My predecessor explained the position to the hon. and gallant Member on the 11th and 18th November last. I see no reason for making any change in the arrangements. As the Indian Army scale is higher than the British Army scale the Indian Army officer from Captain upwards received, even after the expiration of the first 61 days, substantially more pay than the British Army officer of corresponding rank, while a Lieutenant received practically the same pay as a Lieutenant in the British Army.

Colonel YATE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Indian Army alone have been deprived of full pay which was given to all other officers of the Army, the Navy, and Air Force?

Sir A. WILLIAMSON

I gather from the information I have been able to obtain that the Indian officer got in some cases more than and in every case as much as officers of the British Army.

Colonel YATE

As they have got certain fixed rates of pay, when there are no orders why did they not draw their full pay the same as everybody else?

Sir A. WILLIAMSON

I cannot answer off-hand.