§ 20. Mr. Beswickasked the Secretary of State for War what are the pay and allowances payable to members of the Polish Resettlement Corps holding, respectively, the rank of sergeant, first-lieutenant and captain; what family allowances are payable; and what is the estimated cost per head of food and accommodation.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Bellenger)As the answer contains many figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. BeswickIn common with many other hon. Members, I have said that we should help those Poles who helped us in the fight against the common enemy, but does not my right hon. Friend agree that there are many abuses of the present situation? The total cost to the taxpayer is now running at the rate of £1,340,000 per month, apart from the cost of administration and——
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Question on the Order Paper asks what are the rates of pay and allowances, but the hon. Member is now making further deductions and asking further questions. The original Question was a straightforward one and received a straightforward answer.
§ Mr. BeswickI was about to ask: When sums of money are being paid out to members of the Corps, according to the list my right hon. Friend is going to circulate, will he see that those members of the Polish Forces are not allowed to engage, for example, in outside businesses as well as draw very substantial sums of public money?
§ Mr. BellengerYes, certainly, so far as I can. I will take every step to stop them taking part in business, which is not what
| —— | Lodging Allowance. | London Allowance (For married men living with their families in lodgings) | |||||||
| If place of duty is within 10 miles of Charing Cross. | All Others. | Marriage Allowance | |||||||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | ||
| Sergeant | … | 3 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 40 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| (a week) | |||||||||
| Lieutenant | … | 12 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 6 |
| Captain | … | 12 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 6 |
§ they are being paid for by the British taxpayer.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The rates of pay are:
| Rank. | Pay. | *After 3 years (daily). | *After 4 years (daily). | |||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | |
| Sergeant | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| Lieutenant | 14 | 6 | 17 | 6 | — | |
| (After 3 years in the rank) | ||||||
| Captain | 21 | 0 | — | — | ||
| * These increments are applicable only to those who had completed the specified number of years' service in the Polish Land Forces while under British Command on or before 1st July. 1946. Service subsequent to that date—whether in the Polish Land Forces or the Polish Resettlement Corps—does not qualify for these higher rates. |
§ Allowances are issuable as follows:
§ Members of the Polish Resettlement Corps are normally provided with accommodation or with billets. When neither of these can be provided, lodging allowance under normal rules is admissible. Lodging allowance is issued to single men, and to married men separated from their families by the exigencies of the Service or absence of suitable accommodation. Marriage allowance is admissible under normal conditions; it is not issued if the family is accommodated and fed in camp or the wife is a member of the Services. London allowance is admissible to married members when living with their families otherwise than in War Department quarters, and whose place of duty is within 10 miles of Charing Cross.
§ The rates of these allowances for members of the Polish Resettlement Corps are:
239§ All rates are daily except where otherwise stated.
§ The estimated cost per head of food is when rations are provided in kind is. 5½d. a day, representing the cost of the ration as delivered to the unit uncooked, and when rations are not provided in kind 3s. 2d a day, ration allowance, and of accommodation 1s. 3d. a day.