HC Deb 08 November 1950 vol 480 cc913-4
6. Commander Noble

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when he expects to make a statement on the pay of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.

The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Walter Edwards)

The revised scales of pay of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors, fixed on the basis described by my right hon. Friend the late Parliamentary Secretary on 19th October, 1949, were promulgated to all concerned in February, 1950. Since then the Government have decided to put into operation the recommendations of the Chorley Committee on the level of Civil Service salaries, and the scales of salary in the higher reaches of the Corps are subject to adjustment for this.

Commander Noble

Could the Civil Lord tell us anything about the entry of these officers now? He told my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Merton and Morden (Captain Ryder), on 26th July that there had been two resignations and no entries so far this year. If we are to have the new construction we must have the best officers.

Mr. Edwards

I am afraid the hon. and gallant Gentleman will have to put that question down. All he has asked about is the pay.

Commander Maitland

Will the hon. Gentleman also give consideration to the question of officers of the Chief Inspector of Ordnance, who are in very much the same boat; and will the Admiralty give consideration to bringing their pay into line with modern ideas?

Mr. Edwards

That point will be noted.

Commander Galbraith

Can the hon. Gentleman say by what percentage the pay of officers of the Corps has been increased since the end of the war?

Mr. Edwards

That has already been stated to the House.