§ 23. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for War what is the present rate of local overseas allowances in Tripolitania in respect of accommodated men and non-accommodated men, respectively; and what are the estimated costs upon which each is based.
§ Mr. ShinwellThere are no rates for single officers and other ranks. The rates for married accommodated officers and 1673 other ranks range from 6s. 9d. to 8s. 3d. a day according to rank. Rates for married unaccommodated officers and other ranks are at present under consideration and decisions will shortly be notified to those concerned. In the last part of the Question I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to costs in Tripolitania. Local overseas allowance is granted in aid of essential additional expenditure incurred by troops overseas as compared with the United Kingdom to enable them to live a reasonable life at the station and in calculating the allowance local costs of commodities and services are taken into account.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that at present both accommodated and non-accommodated men are receiving the same rate of local overseas allowance, but in fact the expenses incurred in the case of accommodated men are only one guinea as compared with £3 7s. 6d. in the case of non-accommodated men, and does he not think that there is a strong case for raising the overseas allowance for accommodated men?
§ Mr. ShinwellThis matter was settled some time ago, and I do not think that this is the occasion for a further review.
§ 24. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for War how many ration cuts for British troops formerly serving in Palestine and now serving in Tripolitania there have been since April, 1948; and how the present ration compares with that of April, 1948.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe nutritional value of the ration now provided for British troops in Tripolitania is similar to that of the ration provided for the troops in Palestine in April 1948. Since then, however, the daily ration has been re-adjusted with the object of saving dollar expenditure. The quantities of meat, bacon and cheese have been reduced, but these reductions have been offset by increases in other items, namely, bread, fats and sugar, sufficient to maintain the calorie value of the scale at its previous level. The adjustments to the scales were made in two stages in May and August, 1948; no other adjustments have been made since August.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the two adjustments to which he refers were in 1674 fact worked out on reductions of 10 per cent. overall on each occasion; that troops are now receiving 20 per cent. less, and 30 men have to be fed out of one tin of bacon?
§ Mr. ShinwellI am not aware that these allegations can be substantiated.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs not the Minister aware that this was brought to his notice before Christmas, and has he done anything about it yet?
§ Mr. ShinwellIf the hon. and gallant Member has some specific information about these matters of which I am not aware, I should be glad if he would let me have it.
§ Major Legge-BourkeDoes not the right hon. Gentleman know that a very senior officer in the War Office visited Tripolitania before Christmas and brought this information back to him?
§ 25. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for War how many War Department quarters are now occupied by officers and other ranks respectively in Tripolitania; how many quarters have been leased by private agreement; and what are the expected increases in War Department quarters in Tripolitania for the next six months.
§ Mr. ShinwellInformation is not available as to how many quarters are actually occupied at present. By 31st March, 1949, there should, according to present arrangements, be 65 officers' and 225 other ranks' quarters available or in occupation in Tripolitania and 74 leased or available for leasing by individual private agreement. I cannot forecast what further quarters may in future be provided in Tripolitania.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanCan the right hon. Gentleman say why his Department do not know how many quarters they at present occupy.
§ Mr. ShinwellProbably, because we have not full information.