§ II. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider increasing the outfit allowance to young officers on first appointment, as the £30 now given has been found quite insufficient?
§ Mr. LawThe information in my possession does not indicate that, apart from the operation of the Purchase Tax, the present rate of outfit allowance is inadequate. As regards the effect of the Purchase Tax, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to him by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 23rd April.
§ Sir A. KnoxIs it not the fact that every unit in the Army is complaining that this outfit allowance is insufficient and that really valuable ranker officers are thus prevented from taking commissions?
§ Mr. LawNo, Sir, I do not think there is any evidence to show that ranker officers are prevented from taking commissions by reason of the amount of outfit allowance, which is adequate, if it is carefully used, to provide the necessary outfit.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the Minister aware that many young officers who now find themselves in debt have said definitely that they are in debt as a result of the inadequate allowance provided by the Department; and that, in addition, because of the high prices of Service kit and the operation of the Purchase Tax—and I hope that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will take note of this—these officers find themselves in great difficulty, and will he not take some immediate action in the matter?
Colonel A. EvansIs it not a fact that when this amount of £30 was arrived at by the War Office it was considered adequate as it was not possible then to bear in mind the subsequent Purchase Tax? If it is not possible for the War Office to persuade the Chancellor of the Exchequer to that point of view, will they take over the responsibility of providing officers with an adequate outfit and withdrawing the allowance altogether?
§ Captain StricklandWill my hon. Friend take personal steps to go to one of the military stores and ascertain from them what is the cost of an outfit?
§ Mr. LawI have ascertained what is the cost, and, apart from the Purchase Tax, the amount is adequate.
§ Mr. ShinwellIf many officers had declared that the amount is inadequate—and they are in a better position than the hon. Gentleman to judge—why should there be any objection to taking some immediate action? Can we have an answer, as this is a very important question affecting a very large number of men in the country?
§ Mr. LawWhile it may be true that many officers do complain that the allowance is inadequate, a far larger number have been able to get on with the allowance as it is. The allowance has been carefully calculated, and, apart from the operation of the Purchase Tax, it is adequate to cover the necessities of the officer.
§ Sir A. KnoxIs it not a fact that £50 was the allowance in the last war? Why should there be any decrease now?