HC Deb 11 November 1941 vol 374 cc2021-2
16. Mr. Crowder

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, with the object of decreasing the difference in pay received by the married and single soldier, he will consider reducing the qualifying allotment of non-commissioned officers and men by 3s. 6d. per week and increasing the wife's allowance by a similar amount to be contributed by the State?

Captain Margesson

No, Sir. I do not consider that the difference in the circumstances of married and single men in the Army can be regarded as excessive in comparison with similar differences in civil life.

Mr. Crowder

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that the Treasury make up the pay of civil servants who join the Army, and thus admit the principle that some extra assistance is needed? Will he reconsider the position of the married men in the Army?

Captain Margesson

I do not think that the comparative positions of married and single men in the Army are really very different from what they are in civil life.

33. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that soldiers serving at distant stations, whose civilian wages at home are being made up, find themselves, on receiving promotion, involved in difficulties regarding overpayments made to their wives; and whether in all such cases the men involved will be given the opportunity of transferring their increases home, thus automatically balancing the overpayments made to their wives, or whether he will take other suitable steps to avoid this anomaly?

Captain Margesson

Arrangements already exist by which a soldier stationed overseas whose pay account is kept at his station may apply to his commanding officer for a remittance to be sent to the appropriate regimental paymaster at home for transmission to his wife or other person. The pay accounts of soldiers serving in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East are now maintained at home, and in cases where the balance of civil pay is made up from public funds a revised procedure has recently been adopted in order to prevent overissues in future.

Mr. Bellenger

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether, in the case of these soldiers stationed overseas whose accounts are kept at home, there is any speedy procedure, such as the telegraph, for dealing with applications made by the men overseas for part of their money to be transferred to their wives? Otherwise there is sometimes hardship.

Captain Margesson

I cannot say exactly how information is received, but we are trying to obtain it as soon as possible.