HC Deb 11 November 1941 vol 374 cc2033-4
47. Mr. Crowder

asked the Prime Minister whether, with the object of securing some measure of parity in the remuneration of members of the Fighting Forces and those engaged on unskilled civilian labour, he will appoint a committee to investigate the whole question of wages, bonuses, overtime, danger money and the like, with a view to securing a fairer distribution of our resources, as between the Service man and the unskilled civilian worker?

50. Mr. Wakefield

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the growing dissatisfaction at the inequalities and anomalies in the rates of remuneration as between men engaged in the Fighting Forces and those engaged in industry, in particular where men are semi- or unskilled; and what steps is ho proposing to take to remove the unfair inequalities which at present exist?

The Prime Minister

The remuneration of members of the Armed Forces is necessarily based on quite different considerations from those of civil employment, and I do not think therefore that the investigation suggested by my hon. Friend the Member for Finchley (Mr. Crowder) would be of assistance.

Mr. Crowder

Would the Prime Minister bear in mind that it was generally understood after the last war that such grave inequality would never be allowed again? There is a good deal of feeling in the country.

The Prime Minister

There are many Parliamentary opportunities of ventilating such grievances.

Mr. Bellenger

Would the right hon. Gentleman indicate to the House what are the different considerations as regards basing the pay of the. Forces compared with the pay of civilians?

The Prime Minister

I certainly should not attempt to do it at Question time.