HC Deb 24 November 1927 vol 210 cc2064-5
59. Captain EDEN

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what amount and what proportion of the estimated expenditure upon the Army, Navy and Air Force in the year 1927–28 is expected to be expended in payments to pensioners and other non-combatants; whether he can give similar figures for the year 1913–14; and whether he will consider the possibility of making such adjustments in the presentation of the Estimates as will further clarify this distinction?

Mr. SAMUEL

It is not quite clear what my hon. and gallant Friend moans by the expression "other non-combatants." If, however, the purpose of his question is to obtain a comparison of the cost of effective and non-effective services, he will find this information in the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Southport (Sir G. Dalrymple-White) on the 22nd November. I am sending him a copy of this reply. The particulars so given are, in fact, already shown separately in the Estimates.

60. Captain EDEN

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the expenditure upon the Army, Navy and Air Force is due to the scale of pay for all ranks being at a higher rate than that in force in 1913–14?

Mr. SAMUEL

As has been pointed out several times recently, a comparison between the cost of the pay of the Fighting Services at present rates and at the rates in force in 1913–14 is apt to be misleading owing to the changes of organisation and grading that have taken place meantime, and particularly the creation of the Royal Air Force. Subject to this reservation, the pre-War cost of the same numbers of officers and men as we have to-day may be estimated at £16,246,000, whereas the actual cost is £34,542,000. The increase of expenditure due to improved pay and allowances is therefore £18,296,000, and accounts for approximately 16 per cent, of the total current defence expenditure and 65 per cent, of the total increase in defence expenditure as compared with 1913.

Captain EDEN

Can the hon. Member give the number of men affected by these figures?

Mr. SAMUEL

According to the main Pay Vote we have now 29,600 fewer men in 1927 than we had in 1913, but we are paying almost £14,250,000 more for the reduced total than for the 1913 total.