HC Deb 10 November 1942 vol 383 cc2254-5
53. Miss Ward

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the numerous occasions on which the pay, allowances and pensions of the Services have been the subject of Parliamentary Debates and Questions, he will order an independent inquiry into the Government machinery which controls the consideration of these matters?

The Prime Minister

Control of the matters to which my hon. Friend refers is the immediate responsibility of the Service Ministers and the Minister of Pensions acting in consultation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and in a wider sense is the responsibility of the Government as a whole. The individual Ministers concerned and the Government are answerable to Parliament for the manner in which they exercise that control and no independent inquiry could usefully be interposed.

Miss Ward

Will my right hon. Friend use his power as Prime Minister to institute an impartial inquiry, in view of the difficulty that the Service Departments and the Ministry of Pensions appear to have in dealing with the Treasury; and is he aware of the great dissatisfaction with regard to the payment of allowances which are given to our Service men and women?

The Prime Minister

I am afraid I have nothing to add to the answer which I have given.

54. Captain C. S. Taylor

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, as a result of the all-party deputation which he received recently, he has now any statement to make on the question of Service pay and allowances and the many anomalies that still exist?

The Lord President of the Council (Sir John Anderson)

The points raised by the deputation, which were numerous and in some instances involved rather complex issues, have been under close examination by the Departments concerned, and the Government will be in a position to make a full statement in the course of the next week or two.

Captain Taylor

Would my right hon. Friend give me the information, so that I could put a Question down at an early date?

Sir J. Anderson

Certainly.

Major Markham

Will the information be issued as a White Paper?

Sir J. Anderson

I cannot say for the moment.