§ 18. Mr. F. GRAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the fact that Government Departments have been instructed to regard the cost-of-living index figure as 85 in their calculations of staff bonuses for the year 1923–24, he is now prepared to apply the same principles in respect of allowances to the dependants of serving soldiers?
§ Mr. GWYNNEI think the hon. Member is under some misapprehension. An index of 85 is the basis on which 257 Departments were instructed to prepare their Estimates for the current year, but the rates paid to civil servants are fixed twice a year on the basis of the actual average index of the preceding period. For marriage allowance the rate is fixed annually, also having regard to the actual figures of the preceding year. It happens that the basis in both cases at the present time is an index of 80.