HC Deb 11 February 1948 vol 447 cc362-3
28. Mr. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the equivalent rank in the Diplomatic Service for air attachés and assistant air attachés; whether they receive the same pay and allowances; what is the present arrangement for dealing with local cost of living changes; whether such arrangements are retrospective; and whether an Inspector has been sent out to inquire into their financial problems.

Mr. A. Henderson

The position of air attachés and assistant air attachés is similar to that of military attachés and assistant military attachés. I would, therefore, refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 27th January by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War.

Mr. Teeling

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman infer that the Air Ministry does not go separately into the position of the finances of their air attachés and, furthermore, can he say why it is that air attachés and assistant air attachés are not given the same allowances for lodgings and flats as those given to members of the Diplomatic Corps of equivalent rank?

Mr. Henderson

The question which the hon. Gentleman put to me was as to the position of air and assistant air attachés. What I said was that their position was similar to that of military and assistant military attachés. That is not inconsistent with my Department having gone into the financial aspects relating to this type of officer.

Mr. Teeling

That does not answer my Question about pay and allowances and why they are not given allowances for lodgings and flats, the same as people of equivalent rank in the Diplomatic Corps.

Mr. Henderson

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War to an exactly similar question which referred to military and assistant military attachés.

Mr. Teeling

Why does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman answer my Question?

Mr. Henderson

I said that if the hon. Gentleman referred to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War to a similar Question, he could apply that to air and assistant air attachés.

Mr. Teeling

On a point of Order. That is an absolutely ridiculous answer. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.