HC Deb 28 May 1952 vol 501 cc1348-50
25. Mr. Marlowe

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the pay of Lieut. Birnie, of the Malay Police, is marriage increment; by how much such increment exceeds the 25s. a week which he allots to his wife; how much could she receive by way of marriage allowance if the necessary formalities were completed by the officer; and what are the formalities involved.

Mr. Hopkinson

Police Lieut. Birnie receives a total married increment of £175 a year. This includes £126 a year marriage allowance and £49 a year additional cost of living allowance. Any variation in the amount now being paid by Lieut. Birnie to his wife is a matter for agreement between the persons concerned or for the courts. There are no formalities involving the Federal Government.

Mr. Marlowe

Is the Minister aware that in this case and similar cases the Colonial Office are condoning a system by which some of these officers are putting into their own pockets money intended for the support of their wives? Is it not quite scandalous that the Colonial Office should be a party to this kind of proceeding, and will he take steps to put pressure on officers who are behaving like this and see that they are interviewed by their commanding officers and are reminded of their obligations to their wives?

Mr. Hopkinson

I think this system, under which marriage allowances are made to the officer concerned and are under his control, exists in all the Services, both civil and military, in this country. So far as the second part of the question is concerned, the High Commissioner has expressed the view that it would not be proper for the Government to put any pressure upon Lieut. Birnie to increase his allotment. From my own examination of the case, it is quite clear to me that there is no possibility of successful pressure being privately brought to bear upon Lieut. Birnie. The matter has been put to him, without success, and it is quite clear that relations between this couple are so bad that there is no hope of persuading them to meet one another's wishes in any way.

Mr. Marlowe

What my right hon. Friend says about what happens in other services is perfectly true, but what also happens is that the commanding officer takes action with the officers concerned to ensure that they fulfil their obligations. Why is not the same thing done in the Colonial Office?

Mr. Hopkinson

We have no constitutional powers, nor has the commanding officer.

26. Mr. Marlowe

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will identify and provide a copy of the regulation which precludes payment of marriage allowance to the wife of a police officer of the Malay Police unless the officer gives written consent to payment of such allowance.

Mr. Hopkinson

Marriage allowance is an emolument of the officer which the Government has contracted to pay to him. It is not payable to any other person, nor is its payment subject to any other condition than that the officer is married and legally liable for the maintenance or part maintenance of his wife or a child. Colonial Regulation No. 48 provides that an officer may remit a portion of his emoluments monthly to a named recipient through the Crown Agents for the Colonies. The amount of any such remittance is entirely at the discretion of the officer.