HC Deb 24 June 1935 vol 303 cc804-5
42. Miss WARD

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the instructions contained in the Appendix to Command Paper 4791, which relate to Army reservists, he will arrange to have the payments made weekly?

Sir WALTER WOMERSLEY (Lord of the Treasury)

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend regrets that to alter the present system, whereby a reservist is paid quarterly in arrear, would be impracticable owing to the extra work and expense that would be involved.

Miss WARD

Is it for the convenience of the War Office that these reservists' payments are made quarterly, or for the benefit of the reservists?

Sir W. WOMERSLEY

I need not point out to my hon. Friend that the change suggested would mean 52 transactions per reservists per year, instead of four, and would involve a great deal of work in the Department and perhaps a great deal of inconvenience to the reservists. My answer to her question therefore is that quarterly payments are in the interests of both.

Miss WARD

In view of difficulties arising out of the receipt of transitional payments, will the hon. Gentleman make representations to the Minister of Labour on the point that it is mostly for the benefit of the War Office that these payments are made quarterly?

Sir W. WOMERSLEY

I will report my hon. Friend's suggestion to both my right hon. Friends.

Mr. DICKIE

Will the hon. Gentleman make representations to the Secretary of State for War asking him to protect these reservists against illegal deductions by another Department?