§ 9. Sir Adam Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that, for childless married officers over 30 years of age in the Royal Air Force, a new scale of allowances has been introduced since 1st January, 1942; that the reductions in some cases amount to 3s. 6d. a day; that, in order to induce officers under 30 to agree to accept the reductions when they reach the age of 30, present allowances have been increased by 1s. a day; that many married officers under 30 have been forced by necessity to undertake to accept the lower scale upon reaching the age of 30; and if he will reconsider this new scale?
§ Sir A. SinclairThe changes recently introduced in the system of officers' allowances which are common to all three Services and the reasons for them were very fully explained by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in his reply to my hon. Friends the Members for Wallsend (Miss Ward) and Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor) on 9th September, 1941. There is no intention of amending the new scale which was the subject of most careful consideration before it was adopted.
§ Sir A. MaitlandIs it true that in certain cases the effect of the change is to make matters worse than they were before, and, if that is so, will the right hon. Gentleman have another look at it?
§ Sir A. SinclairCertainly, if the hon. Gentleman will give me any instances in which that is so, I shall be glad to look into them.