§ 21. Wing-Commander Jamesasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in order to mitigate the hardships occasionally caused to officers and ratings 1932 when, through an error that is no fault of theirs, pay in excess of what is due has been credited to them, a maximum percentage deduction may be brought into force instead of a total stoppage of pay now prevailing while the debt is cleared off?
§ Sir V. WarrenderI think my honourable and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. The Regulations provide that when a debt is to be recovered from a rating, recovery shall be made by instalments. Though there is no regulation about officers, the rate of recovery would be a matter of arrangement and there would not be a complete stoppage of pay.
§ Wing-Commander JamesWill my hon. Friend recognise that the natural tendency of a paymaster is to make the maximum possible stoppage, for fear that the officer or rating may become a casualty before the debt is paid off, and will he therefore ensure that the percentage deduction to work off arrears is kept as low as possible?
§ Sir V. WarrenderIt is the policy to keep deductions as low as possible. My information is that in no case does a complete stoppage of pay ever take place. If my right hon. and gallant Friend has a case in mind I will look into it.