§ 7. Mr. Bowlesasked the Secretary of State for War whether the proposed increases in Service pay will also benefit men who went out of the Army on to W. (T) Reserve to assist the A.F.S. in 1940.
§ Sir J. GriggTo be eligible for war service increments, officers and other ranks must be, or have been, serving in the Forces on or after 3rd September, 1944, the date from which payment of the increments first took effect, and must have completed at least 3 years' service in the Forces during the present war. For this purpose, time spent in a reserve does not count as service.
§ Mr. BowlesWould the right hon. Gentleman look into this, as it seems rather unfair to a man who, quite involuntarily, was seconded from the Army to A.F.S. or N.F.S. service and had no option in the matter and was then ordered back into the Army. Surely service in the N.F.S. should count?
§ Sir J. GriggI am sorry but I take a different view. The increments are intended for service in the Fighting Forces, for people liable to service abroad.
§ Mr. PrittSurely, with reference to a good many A.F.S. and N.F.S. men, they are in just as much physical danger and working just as hard as a proportion of the Army serving abroad.
§ Sir J. GriggI do not believe for a moment that that statement on the general degree of danger in the two Services would command universal acceptance.