§ 34 and 35. Lieut.-Colonel Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for War (1) on what grounds the Army Council has decided that the case for an increase of pay for army chaplains has not been made out; and if, in arriving at this decision, it took the advice of the Inter-Denominational Advisory Committee on Chaplaincy Services;
(2) if he is aware that Army chaplains have done, and are doing, fine service in battle in North-west Europe, Italy and North Africa, that on the average they are older than combatant officers of corresponding ranks, their domestic responsibilities are likely to be greater and most of them have spent many years at the university; and why, in view of the few chances of promotion in the Royal Army Chaplains Department, the pay of the chaplain 4th Class, ranking as captain, for the first three years of his service is only 15s. 4d. a day as compared with an A.E.C. captain at 22s. 8d. and a R.A.M.C. captain at 24s. 6d.
§ Sir J. GriggI will, with permission, Sir, answer this Question and No. 35 together, and in view of its length circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Thornton-KemsleyIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply that I expect, I beg to give notice that I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The considerations mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member in the latter Question are, of course, well known to me, and I am glad to take this opportunity of adding another acknowledgment to the many which the fine work of Army chaplains has so justly earned. An Army chaplain enters the service with the equivalent rank of a captain and with pay at 15s. 4d. a day, increased to 18s. 2d. a day after three years' service, with a captain's allowances in each case. The ordinary combatant officer obtains his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, almost invariably after a period of service in the ranks, with pay at 11s. 0d. a day, and as a lieutenant with three years' service he receives pay of 14s. 6d. day. Royal Army Medical Corps and Army Educational Corps officers enter the service as subalterns. The pay of an Army Educational Corps captain is 19s. 0d. a day and not 22s. 8d. The rates I have quoted are exclusive of the recently approved War Service increments.
§ It would be impossible and inappropriate to attempt to assess the value of an Army chaplain's services in terms of money, but, in comparison with the pay of other officers generally, and with the remuneration of clergymen in civil life, the Army Council were satisfied that they would not be justified in asking for an increase in the present rates of Army chaplains' pay. Before arriving at this conclusion, they were fully informed of the discussion at the Inter-Denominational Advisory Committee on the matter.