§ 28. Sir Wavell Wakefieldasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the hardship being caused to officers and other ranks now serving in Greece, due to the inadequacy of their allowances on account of the present rate of exchange between drachma and sterling; and what action he is taking to remedy this hardship.
§ Mr. BellengerA local allowance is given to officers and other ranks in Greece, which takes account of local prices and conditions of living. For the purpose of calculating this allowance, which is expressed in terms of sterling, local prices are converted to sterling at the current rate of exchange, which is also used for converting cash issues to the troops from sterling to drachmae. The allowance was recently reviewed, and will be reviewed again shortly in the light of detailed information supplied by the local Service authorities, regarding prices and conditions of living in Greece.
§ Sir W. WakefieldAre we to understand that no change has been made recently in this matter? Is not the allowance for the Services to be brought into line with the increases allowed to members of the Embassy staff and the Economic Mission mainly because of a recognition of these difficulties in Greece and the relations of the drachma to sterling exchange?
§ Mr. BellengerI do not think the cases are comparable, but the allowances were recently reviewed, and are to be reviewed again shortly.
Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braith-waiteWhen these matters are reviewed, are all the Services brought in?
§ Mr. BellengerYes, Sir, we have had close co-operation in these matters with the other Services.