HC Deb 10 October 1939 vol 352 cc143-5
18. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for War why Territorial officers called to the Colours at the outbreak of war are still not in receipt of their pay; and whether he will take immediate steps to ensure that there is no further delay in arranging for their payment?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Durham, Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. William J. Stewart) on Wednesday last. The officers in question should have received their pay on 30th September, when the first monthly issue, for all those who had joined before that date, became due. If any such officer has not yet received an issue of pay, he should communicate at once with his command paymaster, or with the army agents, if he has elected to draw pay from them.

Viscountess Astor

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that many soldiers wives have been literally without one penny of any kind for four weeks?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

I am very astonished to hear that, but if the Noble Lady will tell me what cases she has in mind I will do my best to redress the wrong immediately.

Mr. Buchanan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the wives of regular soldiers who were called up six weeks ago are still awaiting an allowance I have sent cases to the right hon. Gentleman and I cannot even get him to look at them.

Mr. Hore-Belisha

It must be because there is some defect in the particulars. There is no intention of delay in this matter, and I am extremely distressed to hear of any such case. I will do my best to put it right.

Mr. Buchanan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a defect in the particulars does not feed the wife, and that six weeks is an extremely long time for a working-class woman to be without money?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Of course I am aware of it, and of course it will not feed the wife, but if there is no proper address or some failure to supply information, there naturally is delay; but I can assure any hon. Gentleman that if he has a case of that kind I will put it right at once.

Mr. Lewis Jones

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in one case single officers were told that no pay was available until 4th September and that married officers were able to get only 10 per cent. of their month's salary?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

If that is so, and my hon. Friend will be good enough to give me particulars, I will take appropriate steps; but it is a very general statement. Whenever I have looked into a case of the kind I have taken immediate steps to rectify it, but there has usually been some explanation. I would not justify delay, but perhaps my hon. Friend will tell me the facts.

Mr. Stokes

May I ask the Minister whether his statement means that the notification issued to officers that they cannot expect any pay until the middle of November has now been altered by what he has said?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Officers cannot expect any pay until the middle of November? What officers?

Mr. Stokes

Officers of the Territorial Army.

Mr. Hore-Belisha

I do not recognise any such instruction. It does not seem to me to be a natural instruction to issue.

Mr. Stokes

That is the source of my information, that no pay will be available until the middle of November.

Mr. Hore-Belisha

I assure the hon. Gentleman that there is, obviously, some error. Officers are entitled to a month's pay in arrear, but, if they desire, they can make application to the agent or the paymaster and may be given advances of pay. Those are the regulations, and I cannot reconcile them with what the hon. Gentleman has stated.

Mr. G. Griffiths

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it is a shame that officers' wives should have to go on public assistance, and is it not time that they had the money without going there?