§ 28. Colonel Sir CHARLES YATEasked the Secretary of State for War if, in the consideration of the proposed reduction of 5½ per cent. in the pay and pensions of officers, attention was given to the rise in rents, rates, and school fees, &c, which has more than counterbalanced the reduction of the cost of living as shown in the index figure calculated by the Ministry of Labour?
§ Mr. WALSHI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on 7th instant to the hon. Member for Lowestoft (Mr. Rentoul), indicating that regard had been had to the Ministry of Labour indext figure. That figure allows specifically for some of the items named by my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Sir C. YATEIs any consideration given to the cost of education in the index figure?
§ Sir C. YATEIs education one of them?
§ Captain Viscount EDNAMIs it not a fact that, if this reduction continue, many junior commissioned ranks will be as badly off as, if not worse than, they were in 1919; and will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the position, in view of the warning recently issued by the Chief of the General Staff as to the grave shortage of young officers in the Army?
§ Sir JAMES REMNANTDoes the reduction of 5½ per cent. apply to pre-War pensions as well as to bonuses given during the War?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a question which should be put down.