HC Deb 04 May 1938 vol 335 cc858-61
33. Vice-Admiral Taylor

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how much more a married officer with wife and one child, taking up a shore appointment where no official quarters are provided, will receive per annum than a married officer with a wife and no children?

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Duff Cooper)

As a result of the arrangement which I communicated to my hon. and gallant Friend in reply to his question of 6th April, a married but childless commissioned officer will receive the same total emoluments as he would if he had one child. A married warrant officer with one child will receive 1s. per day more than he would if he were childless.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Am I to understand that a married officer with one child receives no more than a married officer who has no children? If that is so, will the First Lord go into the matter and see that the officer gets the 2s, which under the scheme is allotted for the first child?

Mr. Cooper

My hon. and gallant Friend is aware that under the scheme as originally propounded it was found that a married officer with no child will be slightly worse off than he was before, owing to the forfeit of his lodging allowance. Therefore, a change was made in order to ensure that nobody should suffer under the new scheme, and it works out that he will receive as much as an officer with one child.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

rose—

Mr. Speaker

There are 102 questions on the Order Paper.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

On a point of Order. This is a very important subject to the naval officers, and supplementary questions are being asked on other matters.

Mr. Speaker

The First Lord has answered the question.

34. Vice-Admiral Taylor

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what payments will be made to a lieutenant-commander or commander with a wife and one child removing his family from England to Hong Kong on account of the tickets for his wife and child; and what will he receive after arrival on account of lodging allowance and marriage allowance, respectively?

Mr. Cooper

The original scheme has been modified and orders have recently been issued by which the families of officers employed on shore abroad will be given free passages to and from the officer's place of appointment. On arrival abroad the officer will be entitled to the same allowances as if he were appointed on shore at home. Alternatively, an officer appointed on shore abroad who certifies that he is maintaining a home in this country for his family, will receive marriage and chilldren's allowances in addition to any allowances, for example, lodging allowance, to which he is himself entitled.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

I have not followed exactly what the allowance is. I do not mean that in any derogatory sense. Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, under the amended regulations, when a naval officer with his family goes abroad, he will receive his travelling allowance and that in addition, when he arrives to take up his appointment abroad he will receive his marriage allowance?

Mr. Cooper

Yes. He will receive marriage allowance when he is abroad and he will also receive travelling allowance.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Thank you.

35. Vice-Admiral Taylor

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether under the marriage allowance scheme a married officer with no children, on taking up a shore appointment where no official quarters are provided, will be better off financially than he was before the scheme was introduced?

Mr. Cooper

After allowing for the cut in pay, the officer in question will be in approximately the same position financially as hitherto.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Am I to understand that the married officer receives no more than the unmarried officer, although he has greater expense, owing to the fact that he is married? May I have an answer? Will the First Lord say when a White Paper will be issued giving the particulars?

37. Mr. Parker

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the marriage allowance for commissioned officers from warrant rank is 4s. 6d. per day or 3s.; and whether he will state the separate emoluments and the total of commissioned officers from warrant rank above nine years' seniority in the mechanical and non-mechanical branches, respectively, under the old system, if receiving lodging and provision and any other shore allowance, and, if married with no children, under the new system with marriage allowance, but with his pay cut and allowances abolished?

Mr. Cooper

The normal marriage allowance for a commissioned officer from warrant rank is 3s. a day, but married and childless commissioned officers from warrant rank employed on shore and not provided with married quarters receive 4s. 6d. a day. As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 13th April.