65. Vice-Admiral Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Air what is the lowest age at which a squadron-leader has received allowances at marriage rates; and do the regulations permit these allowances to be paid below the age of 30?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour)The youngest squadron-leader at present in receipt of allowances at married rates is 28 years of age. These allowances are not payable to an officer under the age of 30 unless he has attained the rank of squadron-leader. I regret that it would not be practicable without an undue expenditure of labour to ascertain how many previous cases there have been, if any, of married officers who have attained the rank of squadron-leader while still under 30.
Vice-Admiral TaylorAm I to understand that the married officer in the Air Force has a greater privilege than the married officers in the Army and Navy in that he receives marriage allowance below the age at which the Naval officer and the Army officer receives it?
§ Captain BalfourIt is not for me to compare the advantages of the respective Services.
§ Mr. G. GriffithsIs the payment of this allowance at 30 years of age going to help the population?