§ 75. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst British officers of the Indian Army, particularly the emergency commissioned officers, on account of the fact that they have had no increase in pay since the war began; that the recent Far Eastern allowance 974 granted to British Army personnel does not apply to them; that British officers of the Indian Army do not qualify for leave in the United Kingdom on a similar basis to British Army personnel; and what steps he is taking to remedy these grievances.
§ The Secretary of State for India (Mr. Amery)All the increases in consolidated family allowance which have been granted to British officers since the outbreak of war, and the recent war service increments of pay, have been applied to British officers of the Indian Army. Far Eastern allowance which replaces Colonial allowance and Field allowance is applicable only to personnel on the British Pay Code. It is not applicable to personnel on the Indian Pay Code, whether British Army or Indian Army, because the rates of pay under that code include the equivalent to Colonial allowance, and Field allowance is payable separately, and since the British Army in India and S.E.A.C. is on the Indian Pay Code there is no discrimination in this respect against the Indian Army. As regards the last part of his Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 14th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Cathcart (Mr. F. Beattie) of which I am sending him a copy.