§ 12. Sir Ian Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will increase the gratuity of £100 payable to an airman who completes 12 years' service with the Colours and four on the Reserve, to take account of the fall in the value of money and the rise in pay which have taken place since the sum of £100 was fixed.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Arthur Henderson)I regret I am not able to accept the hon. Member's suggestion.
§ Sir I. FraserIs it not a fact that this sum of money, granted before the last war to compensate a man who, when he went out of the Service, had not served long enough to get a pension, is now worth half of what it was?
§ Mr. HendersonI am not prepared to accept the latter part of that question.
§ Mr. Douglas MarshallWhat would be the cost involved if the right hon. and learned Gentleman accepted the suggestion of my hon. Friend?
Mr. George WardsIs the Minister aware that the primary object of this gratuity is to help a man to establish himself in civil life, to buy furniture, household goods, etc. What possible use is £100 to him for this purpose?
§ Mr. HendersonI am not prepared to suggest that £100 is a sacrosanct sum but, none the less, it was the figure considered desirable for all three Services in 1945 and cannot be altered unilaterally.