HC Deb 19 November 1941 vol 376 cc284-6
18. Flight-Lieutenant Ralph Etherton

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that officers in the Royal Air Force are penalised compared with other ranks, as well as in comparison with other Services, by the Royal Air Force system of billeting officers without subsistence; that in some cases Army officers in the same billet being boarded draw a higher rate of rations and allowances than those of the Royal Air Force; that other ranks of the Royal Air Force being billeted with subsistence are similarly able to draw more generous rations than officers; and whether he will take steps to end this unsatisfactory state of, affairs?

Sir A. Sinclair

The Royal Air Force system of billeting officers without subsistence is common to the three Services. Army and R.A.F. officers when billeted make their own arrangements for food and the rates of ration allowance in issue to them are in general the same. The conditions of entitlement to ration allowance may, however, vary according to circumstances. Rations in kind are not drawn by airmen who are billeted with subsistence. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any cases of unequal treatment in mind and will let me have details of them, I shall be glad to have them investigated.

Flight-Lieutenant Etherton

Does not the practice between the Services differ in such a way that the Royal Air Force are placed in a worse position?

Sir A. Sinclair

No, Sir. I understand that is not the case, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will give me any details, I will have them investigated at once.

19. Flight-Lieutenant Etherton

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will reconsider his recent decision to deprive, as from 1st September, 1941, all officers in the Royal Air Force, other than those in the general duties branch, of any increase in pay for a period of 12 months after promotion; and whether he is aware that such treatment, which is peculiar to the Royal Air Force, is causing great discontent?

23. Mr. Mander

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the desirability of altering the present arrangement by which officers of the Royal Air Force, other than those on general duties who hold an acting rank two grades above their substantive rank, do not receive the pay of their acting rank until after a period of 12 months; and whether this period could with advantage be considerably reduced?

Sir A. Sinclair

The Order referred to is of limited scope. It applies only to officers holding acting rank more than one step above their basic rank and it does not affect officers promoted to temporary rank. A number of temporary promotions are under consideration and will shortly be published. The decision to promulgate the Order was only reached after careful consideration of the position in regard to the promotion of officers in all branches of the Royal Air Force. I believe that the Service understands the reason for the change and I am not prepared to reverse it.

Flight-Lieutenant Etherton

Has my right hon. Friend not had representations from Groups as well as from Commands on this matter, and will not the effect of the Order be that in 12 months' time there will be no officers, other than officers of the General Duties Branch, who will be paid for the rank in which they are serving?

Sir A. Sinclair

No, Sir. Possibly my hon. and gallant Friend has not fully understood that part of my answer in which I referred to the temporary promotions.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Ronald Ross

Is there any class to whom this country owes more, and is it right that their undoubted loyalty should be taken advantage of by depriving them of pay appropriate to their responsibilities?

Sir A. Sinclair

I do not think my hon. and gallant Friend quite appreciates the issues involved in this matter. Briefly, the position is that at the beginning of the war we had to make a large number of appointments in the administrative and special duties branch. Officers with flying experience were required for operational work and a number of gentlemen who volunteered were given these appointments without any previous experience. Officers from fighting squadrons whose tour of duty has expired are now becoming and will increasingly become available to occupy these posts. Up to now promotions for officers who came forward without any service background has been in many cases more rapid than in the case of the fellows who are doing the fighting in the squadrons. We want to maintain the balance.

Flight-Lieutenant Etherton

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise the matter again at the earliest possible moment.

21. Mr. Hamilton Kerr

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider granting an allowance to officers in order to buy tropical outfit, particularly in view of the fact that the great majority of officers are now commissioned from the ranks and very often possess no private means?

Sir A. Sinclair

A grant of £5, in aid of the cost of tropical clothing, is already payable to officers who have received outfit grants not exceeding £40 (or £45 in the case of officers commissioned on or after 1st January, 1941) and who are posted on or after 30th May, 1941, to countries where such clothing is necessary. If they so desire, officers are free to purchase airmen's pattern tropical clothing from R.A.F. stocks.

Mr. Kerr

Does my right hon. Friend think that £5 is sufficient to cover the cost for officers who have no financial means of their own?

Sir A. Sinclair

Actually the amount is more than the cost of the clothing purchased from Royal Air Force stocks.