§ 27 and 38. General Sir George Jeffreysasked the Secretary of State for War (I) whether he is aware that the motor mileage allowance to T.A. personnel travelling on duty is inadequate and compares unfavourably with the mileage allowance paid to local government officers; and whether he will cause a substantial increase to be made in this allowance;
(2) whether he is aware of the delays and inconvenience which are caused by the present method whereby petrol coupons for duty journeys are issued by the Ministry of Fuel and Power to Territorial Army personnel against applications submitted by individuals and supported by certificates of officers commanding units; and whether he will give consideration to a system of bulk allocation of petrol to Territorial Army associations to issue, where necessary, to their personnel.
§ Mr. BellengerThere arc two different arrangements under which members of the Territorial Army may use their private cars in connection with their Territorial Army activities. First, they may use them in the performance of duties for which a car would have been provided by the War Department if available. In this case petrol coupons are issued under Army arrangements through the Territorial Army associations and mileage allowance is paid at the same rate as officers of the Regular Army receive in similar circumstances. Second, members of the Territorial Army may use their cars for attendance at evening drills and other training where public transport facilities are inadequate. In this case, they are not using their cars on Army duty but are 191 in much the same position as other members of the public whose business or other activities necessitate extra running of their cars. The issue of petrol coupons is, therefore, a matter for the regional petroleum officer. I am not aware of any delay and inconvenience caused by this arrangement. If the hon. and gallant Member knows of any such cases, I will ask my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power to have them investigated. For these journeys, my Department pays rates of mileage allowance which are intended to cover only the marginal use of the car without any contribution to overheads such as is made to owners using their cars on War Department duty.
Sir G. Jeffreys: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the object of these allowances is to render it reasonably easy for Territorial officers and other ranks to attend drills, often having to travel very long distances? Is he also aware that the system of bulk issue by a Territorial Association was most successfully carried out throughout the war in the case of the Home Guard? Is he aware that there are delays in getting petrol through the filling up of forms, such as I hold in my hand, from regional petroleum officers?
§ Mr. BellengerIn that connection I will do my best with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power to facilitate the issue of petrol coupons
Mr. MedHcottIs not this another example of the niggardly and somewhat parsimonious attitude adopted by the War Office and the Treasury to the Territorial Army? If the right hon. Gentleman's Department spent less time examining small items in pence, losses of many millions would not occur through negligence.
§ Mr. BellengerI think my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is adopting a sympathetic attitude on this matter, as was evidenced by the announcement he made during the proceedings on the Finance Bill the other evening.
§ Mr. ScollanDoes this scheme apply equally to officers and to other ranks?
§ Mr. BellengerI would like notice of that Question.