HC Deb 04 October 1939 vol 351 cc1953-4
54. Mrs. Tate

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that in both the Army and the Royal Air Force there are cases of officers receiving no pay for many weeks after taking up their duties; and whether he will take immediate steps, either by increasing temporarily the clerical staffs of the War Office and Air Ministry or by other means, to put an end to conditions which are embarrassing many newly-appointed officers in these services?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

It may not be generally appreciated that pay is issuable to officers in the Army and the Royal Air Force monthly in arrear. Arrangements are in force whereby officers requiring advances may obtain them through the normal service machinery, but if my hon. Friend will let me have details of any cases of hardship of which she has knowledge, I will ask for inquiries to be made.

Mr. A. Jenkins

Is the Minister aware that there is considerable delay in paying these allowances to the dependants of other ranks as well as of officers, and can he take steps to hasten payment?

Mrs. Tate

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are cases in which men who joined up early in July have not yet received their pay? That can hardly come under the heading of pay being paid monthly in arrears.

Flight-Lieut. Grant-Ferris

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I can bear out all that the hon. Member for Frome (Mrs. Tate) says, and would it not be possible for us to receive our pay on the 30th of the month and not later on?

Mr. Morrison

I shall be very glad to have inquiries made in any cases of delay which are of general application which are addressed to me, or to the Service Ministers concerned in the case of any particular branch of the Services. I have referred to the machinery which does exist for payment, and I think it is probably the best machinery for the purpose, but any individual case will be examined at once.

Commander Locker-Lampson

What is the point of paying monthly?