HC Deb 16 September 1931 vol 256 cc834-6
33. Mr. EDE

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, seeing that the pay of officers and other ranks who joined the Forces prior to 26th October, 1925, has been reduced so that. a major loses 3.4 per cent., a second-lieutenant, after three years, 4.2 per cent., a regimental sergeant-major 14.3 per cent., a regimental quartermaster-sergeant 16.7 per cent., a company sergeant-major 15 per cent., a sergeant 14.3 per cent., a corporal 20 per cent., and a private 27.3 per cent., the Government will take steps to make these reductions conform more closely to the principle of equality of sacrifice?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Duff Cooper)

The figures used in the question present a somewhat misleading picture of what will actually take place when the new rates come into force. It has been decided to apply to all officers and men the rates which already apply to all who have been commissioned or enlisted since 1925. Under this arrangement the pay of the majority of private soldiers will not be affected, and the apparent inequalities are due to the fact that the Committee who reported to the Government in 1923 on the remuneration of State servants recommended reductions in the rates of pay of junior officers, non-commissioned officers and men and not in the rates of pay of senior officers. These rates have been in force for the last six years, and there is no intention at present of revising them.

Mr. EDE

Will the lion. Gentleman consider consulting the representatives of the troops in the same way that the representatives of the senior service are being consulted at the moment about the matter of hardship, and will he arrange for a regimental sergeant-major to give, in clear and explicit language, his view of these proposed reductions, in the light of the sanctity of contracts in the soldier's service?

Mr. COOPER

As far as I am aware, no representatives of senior officers are being consulted.

Mr. EDE

I said the senior service—the Navy.

Mr. COOPER

As to that, I have no information. With regard to the hon. Member's suggestion about consulting representatives of the non-commissioned officers, I am not sure that even, if it were adopted, it would promote discipline.

Mr. EDE

Will the hon. Gentleman consult the Prime Minister about the establishment of soldiers' councils?

Mr. A. V. ALEXANDER

May I ask whether an Army Order on this matter has been issued?

Mr. COOPER

Yes.