HC Deb 08 February 1949 vol 461 cc188-90
44. Mr. A. R. W. Low

asked the Secretary of State for War how many regular officers resigned or retired in 1947 and 1948, respectively; how many others applied to resign; how many have resigned or retired in 1949; how many others have applied to resign; and if he will circulate a table showing separate figures for each arm and branch of the Service and give particulars of numbers in each rank.

Mr. M. Stewart

During 1947, 510 Regular officers resigned or retired voluntarily; 61 applications to be allowed to resign or retire were refused. The corresponding figures for 1948 are 783 and 38; for January, 1949, 68 and three, A further 146 applications have been approved to take effect in coming months. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT tables giving the information asked for in the last part of the Question.

Mr. Low

Is not the figure that the hon. Gentleman has given the House of those who have resigned from January, 1949, extremely disquieting, following the latest announcements made to the House by the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Defence of the alterations in pay and allowances of officers?

Mr. Stewart

This is a figure that is bound to cause concern, but the hon. Member is over-simplifying it if he links it entirely with pay. It must be remembered that the rules governing permission to resign or retire have progressively been relaxed, and for several reasons it was to be expected that in the years following the war this figure would go up.

Major Legge-Bourke

Would the hon. Gentleman agree that the greater proportion of officers who are gone are married; and is it not a fact that the reason why that percentage is so high is because of the local overseas allowances being so grossly unfair as between accommodated and non-accommodated men?

Mr. Stewart

I cannot accept that suggestion about the local overseas allowances. As I have intimated, there are several causes for these figures. One, of course, in the case of married men, is a difficulty about married quarters.

Mr. Scollan

Is the Minister aware that where people are dissatisfied with the salaries and conditions of their employment, and they retire en masse, it is generally called a strike and against the interests of society? Why should they not be treated in the same way in the Army?

Mr. Stewart

I think my hon. Friend is overlooking that permission is required for this action.

Brigadier Prior-Palmer

Would the hon. Gentleman inform the House what steps he is taking to halt this trend which is extremely serious?

Mr. Stewart

Yes, Sir. The House is aware of the steps we have taken and are taking about married quarters and is acquainted with the recent improvements announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence.