§ 16. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames can hope for a reply to his letter of 27th February, 1950, on the subject of the remuneration of warrant officers serving in the offices of military attachés at British Embassies abroad.
§ Mr. StracheyThe rates of local allowances for military staff in the British Embassy, Cairo, to which the letter referred, are still under review, but a decision is anticipated in the very near future. My hon. Friend will then reply to the hon. Member's letter to him.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes that answer mean that not only have hon. Members of this House to wait three months for an answer from the War Office, but, equally, that it takes the War Office three months to make up their minds about the rate of allowance for one warrant officer in one overseas capital?
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir, but the hon. Member was in correspondence with my hon. Friend on this matter, and the decision does involve, first, discovering the area which the hon. Member has in mind, and then settling a matter of some importance in principle.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterOn a point of order. In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman completely misapprehends the position, I beg to give notice that I shall seek a convenient opportunity to raise the matter.