§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will define the nature of the grievance of certain radio locators in respect of pay; and how many individuals are affected thereby?
§ Captain MargessonMy hon. Friend no doubt refers to the decision to remove the trade of operator (fire control) from the list of Army trades with effect from 31st January, 1941. Under the normal rules men who were at that date mustered in the trade in question were entitled to retain their tradesmen's rates of pay for. a period of six months. It was subsequently decided to allow them to retain their rates up to 31st December, 1941, whilst they remain employed on the same duties, pending further consideration of the question of the appropriate rates of pay for this employment. This has been under review and it is hoped that a decision will shortly be reached. This concession to the men mustered in the trade before the revision of 31st January, 1941, allowing them temporarily to retain their special rates of pay means that for the time being they are drawing higher rates than those subsequently posted to this duty. It would not be in the public interest to give the number of fire control operators.