§ 34. Mr. W. J. Brownasked the Secretary of State for War whether the increases of pay and allowances recently decided on for the Army are being paid to the Forces in India.
§ Sir J. GriggThe War Service increments are payable to all officers below the rank of major-general and to other ranks in receipt of British-Indian rates of pay, provided their service qualifies. Japanese campaign pay is also paid to these officers and other ranks except that it is confined to ranks up to and including captain. The application of these increases to British personnel of the Indian Army and to British Service personnel attached to or serving with the Indian Army is under active consideration and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India hopes to make a statement before long. As stated in the White Paper, Far East Allowance is issued to troops in receipt of pay under the British Pay Code. It is, therefore, not applicable to the troops in India because they are under either the Indian or the British-Indian Pay Code.
§ Mr. BellengerIs it not the case that the large number of British troops in India who, as my right hon. Friend says, are not in receipt of British rates of pay but are on the British-Indian code will not get the increased allowance authorised in the White Paper for the Far Eastern service?
§ Sir J. GriggThe Far Eastern allowance was designed to equate the position of people on the British-Indian code with those who were on the British code. Since it is designed to bring those on the British code up to the standard of the British-Indian code, it is not payable to those on the British-Indian code.
§ Mr. W. J. BrownHas there been any adjustment in the Far Eastern allowance since the House was informed of the increase of pay to the British soldier?
§ Sir J. GriggThe Far Eastern allowance was contained in the last statement of pay increases. It is a combination or amalgamation of various allowances previously in existence and there has certainly been no variation since that Paper was issued.