HC Deb 06 June 1944 vol 400 cc1181-3
6. Miss Ward

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any increase in pay and allowances arising out of the White Paper have been made to Maltese, Cypriots and Palestinians serving in the Forces.

Sir J. Grigg

Maltese, Cypriot and Palestinian soldiers paid at British rates of pay have, of course, received the increases of pay detailed in the White Paper. Those paid at a proportion of British rates have received roughly the same proportion of the increases. The question of family allowance is at present being considered.

20. Mr. Manningham-Buller

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the deductions made from dependants' allowances, on account of payments credited weekly to a soldier by his former civilian employers, are in all cases no more than the amount so credited.

Sir J. Grigg

Dependants' allowance is paid at five fixed rates. The actual rate in issue in a particular case depends on the available income, including payments from former civilian employers, and the rate is re-assessed when the income changes. In certain cases an increase in income may result in a slightly larger drop in the allowance. This is, I regret, unavoidable: there are, of course, other cases where a drop in income leads to a larger increase in the allowance payable.

Mr. Manningham-Buller

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, might I ask whether, on occasions, the grant of, say, half-a-crown a week to the soldier in the Forces does not lead to a deduction of double that amount from the dependants' allowance?

Sir J. Grigg

I have heard of one case of that sort, which was dealt with specially; but I do not think that cases as extreme as that are frequent.

Miss Ward

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it does quite often happen in connection with war service grants?

23. Miss Ward

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any decision has been taken with regard to increasing the allowances of dependants of officers and other ranks.

Sir J. Grigg

An announcement on this matter will be made shortly.

Miss Ward

Will it be to-day or next week?

33. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his reports show that the recent increases in allowances have met with general approval from the Army.

Sir J. Grigg

Broadly speaking, the answer is "Yes, Sir."

Mr. Gallacher

But, narrowly speaking, what is it?

Sir T. Moore

Are the anomalies known to exist being studied by my right hon. Friend, and will they be removed fairly soon?

Sir J. Grigg

The Prime Minister gave an answer on that a short time ago.

Mr. McGovern

May I ask the Minister if, in view of the many anomalies that were not intended by the Advisory Committee, where persons are getting almost the same as they were previously getting with dual payments, he will consider calling the Advisory Committee again for the purpose of stopping these anomalies?

Sir J. Grigg

Perhaps the hon. Member will put a Question down.