§ Captain C. BATHURSTasked whether the men in the Regular Army belonging to the Army Service Corps receive as pay no more than 14s. to 15s. per week, while men in the New Armies belonging to the same branch of the service receive 42s. per week, or three times as much; and, if so, whether there is any reason for so great a disparity in the remuneration given for the same work; and whether it is proposed to continue it?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe hon. and gallant Member is probably comparing motor drivers in the Army Service Corps, who, if privates, are ordinarily paid 1s. 2d. per diem plus corps pay at varying rates, with drivers specially enlisted for the period of the War. It was found necessary on mobilisation to offer a higher rate to induce fully qualified men to enlist, but it is not proposed to extend this to men enlisted on the ordinary terms.
§ Mr. FIELDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that, excluding contracts under £500 in value, contracts for warlike stores, and consumable supplies of food and forage for Army Service Corps, and orders placed abroad, out of 1,865 War Office contracts made in June, only forty-one were given to Ireland; and whether he can give any explanation of those figures?
§ Mr. FORSTERThere has not been time to check the figures given, but I have no reason to doubt that they are substantially correct. As regards their explanation, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my predecessor on the 11th May last.