§ 40. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the hardship suffered by British officers stationed in Tientsin and other Army wireless stations in China by reason of the rise in the value of the Chinese dollar as compared with sterling in which these officers are paid; and whether an allowance will be made to them to compensate them for the additional cost of living which they have to incur?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Douglas Hacking)Yes, Sir. The rates of exchange and their effect on the cost of living for officers paid in sterling are under constant observation, and when the rates of exchange deviate appreciably from those appropriate to the existing rates of Colonial allowance, adjustments in the rates of allowances to meet the extra cost of living are made. The rates of allowances for all three stations in China are being reviewed with effect from 1st April.