HC Deb 14 June 1944 vol 400 cc1959-60
16. Viscount Suirdale

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he proposes to amend the regulations under which the estates of officers on short service commissions engaged in flying duties in the R.A.F., whose terms of service have been extended from four to six years, receive no gratuity if the officers in question are killed before the six years are completed; and whether he will amend such regulations retrospectively to cover the estates of officers who have already been killed during their fifth and sixth year of service.

Sir A. Sinclair

No, Sir. Conditions of short service commission engagement include a gratuity of £300 payable at the termination of four years' service. If an officer at the end of his four years elects to enter into a further engagement for another two years the terms of such extension include the provision of a total gratuity payment of £500, to include the £300. The main purpose of this gratuity is to assist the officer in his re-settlement in civil life and the terms of the engagement expressly provide that it is not payable in whole or in part to the estate of an officer who dies or is killed while serving on the active list before completion of his engagement. In any such case the dependants come under the provision of the War Pensions Code for pensions and allowances of the Armed Forces where death is attributable to war service. The terms of these regulations are specific and known to officers before entering into their initial or extended short service engagements.

Viscount Suirdale

Is the right hon. Baronet aware that, in practice, these officers in war-time have no choice whether they extend their engagement or not; and that there is a great sense of grievance among their relatives who feel that the Government, no doubt unintentionally, are making a profit out of their death?

Sir A. Sinclair

There is no ground what ever for any such suggestion, and, as I say, there are two questions here. One is the provision for dependants of deceased officers and they come under the Pensions Code. The other is the resettlement of an officer in civil life, and it is for that that the gratuity is given.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

Does the right hon. Baronet think it reasonable that if an airman agrees to an extended period of service, his relatives should lose his first gratuity?

Sir A. Sinclair

Yes, because it is for different objects. The dependants are provided for in one way. The object of the gratuity is to assist the resettlement of the officer in civil life.

Viscount Suirdale

In view of the difficulty of discussing this by question and answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise it on the Adjournment.