§ 3. Mr. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds the Executive Committee of the Army Council have decided that command pay shall not be 550 payable to officers of the R.A.O.C., but that the question should be held in abeyance for the duration of the war in view of the fact that this Corps was granted combatant status by Army Order 179 of 21st October, 1941, and that command pay is already applicable to officers in the R.A.S.C. and R.E.M.E. under the terms of the Royal Warrant of 1940, and that the differentiation is causing dissatisfaction amongst R.A.O.C. officers.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Sir James Grigg)R.E. and R.A.S.C. are paid at combatant rates of pay. R.E.M.E. and R.A.O.C. although combatant are paid at Departmental rates. Command pay is not normally issuable to officers paid at Departmental rates. R.E.M.E. was formed from officers of the R.E., R.A.S.C. and R.A.O.C. Of these the R.E. and R.A.S.C. were previously eligible for command pay and it was decided that all officers of the new Corps should be eligible for command pay. No reason was seen to change the conditions of service in the R.A.O.C.
§ Mr. HyndWould the right hon. gentleman explain what is meant by the decision to postpone this until after the close of hostilities? Does it mean that payments will he made retrospectively?
§ Sir J. GriggCertainly not. When the status of the R.A.O.C. was altered it was decided that the conditions of service should not be changed until there was a general review of conditions of service for the post-war period.
§ Mr. BellengerIs the Minister aware that there is some dissatisfaction among officers of the R.A.O.C. at the differentiation made between their Corps and the R.E.M.E. and the R.A.S.C.? These officers think that they should be in a position comparable with that of officers of the other two Corps.
§ Sir J. GriggThat is a matter on which a difference of opinion is possible. The view which prevails is the other one.