HC Deb 21 April 1921 vol 140 cc2068-70
38. Mr. C. WHITE

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that many of the Army, Navy, and Air Force Reservists who have been called to the Colours as a result of the industrial dispute are in danger of losing their employment if retained for an indefinite period; and whether he can definitely state that these men will not, when the dispute is settled, be called upon for foreign service, but will be demobilised not later than the time when the Royal Defence Force is disbanded?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Sir R. Sanders)

I have been asked to reply. With regard to the first part of the question the Government desires to make a special appeal to all employers to regard it as their duty to the nation and to the men called out in the present crisis to take them back into employment as soon as they are released. As regards the second part, I can assure the hon. Member that the Reserves were called out solely in connection with the present emergency, and there is no intention of sending them abroad. Their demobilisation will be carried out with all possible speed as soon as the situation admits.

Mr. W. THORNE

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman think that employers will carry out this new Order in the same way as they carried out the 1914 Order? They left a lot of men stranded after the War.

Sir R. SANDERS

I have every hope that the employers will accede to the appeal made to them.

Sir F. HALL

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there are many ex-service men still unable to find employment, and that a large number of girls are employed in Government offices? Will he take steps to see that some of the girls are cleared out to make room for ex-service men?

Mr. WHITE

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that his pious hope is not materialising now, and that men have already lost their employment?

Sir R. SANDERS

No, I am not aware of that.

39. Mr. C. WHITE

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that great privation and suffering is being caused in the homes of reservists owing to the inadequacy of the separation allowances payable in the case of married men, and also owing to the fact that no separation allowances are payable in the case of single men who have mothers or other relatives solely dependent on them; and whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to increase the allowances in respect of married men, and provide separation allowances in the cases of dependants of single men?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. Taking the rates of separation allowance given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in reply to the hon. Member's question on 12th instant, and the allotments which the reservist's pay while with the Colours enables him to make, I have no reason to think that great privation and suffering are being caused. The same amounts have been found adequate in the case of serving soldiers. I regret that it is not practicable now to reinstitute the scheme of allowances to dependants which was established exceptionally to meet the prolonged absence of men enlisted for the Great War.

Mr. WHITE

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that already people have had to apply for parish relief owing to no separation allowance being paid in the case of single men with dependants, wholly dependent on them?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

It is not possible to reinstitute the scheme of allowances for dependants, but it is possible for any reservist to make an allotment out of his pay to his dependants.

Mr. WHITE

As the pay is £1 a week at the outside for a private soldier, how is such a soldier to make an allotment sufficient to keep a home going?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

I think his pay is more than £1 a week. In addition to that, he is entirely kept and housed while in the Army.

Mr. WHITE

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman look up the scale of Army pay and see whether he is right or I am right?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

I looked it up this morning.

Mr. WHITE

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman say that the pay is not 2s. 9d. a day for a private soldier?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

In the case of men with a certain amount of service it is 3s. 6d. a day, and that is what most of the reservists have.

Major COHEN

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in a large number of cases employers are paying their men their ordinary wages, in spite of the fact that the men are receiving Army pay?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

I was not aware of that, but I am very glad to hear it.