§ 14. Commander Nobleasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the reason for the anomaly in Command 6750, which states that under a basic system of pay Army officers are entitled to qualification pay for staff qualifications, etc., while Naval officers are not.
Mr. DugdaleThe Admiralty reached the conclusion that the widespread payment of specialist and allied allowances was at variance with modern conceptions of the duties expected of naval officers, and that the duties performed should he regarded as proper to the rank held. The value of specialist and similar allowances was taken fully into consideration when fixing the new rates of basic pay for Naval officers, in which these allowances are now merged.
§ Commander NobleWould the hon. Gentleman say whether this matter was discussed fully with the other Services?
Mr. DugdaleYes, Sir. But the position in the Navy is somewhat different in so far as almost every officer attached to the Navy is in fact a specialist officer, and it would involve a different system of specialised payment for practically every officer in the Service. The position, I think—although I speak subject to correction—is not the same in the Army.