Mr. Vaneasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that emergency commission officers, who deferred their release in 1945, are at a disadvantage compared with Regular officers and officers who deferred their release after 15th August, 1946, to whose credit either retired pay or an additional gratuity is accruing; and what alternative benefit he will propose to remedy this injustice.
§ Mr. BellengerThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. I am not aware of any disadvantage attaching to
46Wvarious other factors. Thus the number of people who can be employed in these offices varies on a sliding scale. The actual numbers employed together with the reductions which have been made during the preceding 12 months, and the further reductions envisaged by the 1st April, 1948, are as follow:
officers who deferred their release in 1945 compared with those who deferred their release after 15th August, 1946. In both cases entitlement to war gratuity accrues up to 15th August, 1946. The Regular officer is also entitled under the same rules.
It is true that the Regular officer qualifies also for service retired pay or service gratuity, but of course this is part of his professional conditions of service as a permanent Regular officer.
Mr. Vaneasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that emergency commission officers, who deferred their release in 1945 and whose release takes effect after 1st April, 1947, will be placed at a disadvantage compared with those whose release will take place before that date in so far as all allowances, except ration allowance, receivable during their release leave will be subject to tax; and what adjustment he proposes.
§ Mr. BellengerThese officers receive the benefits of the new code of pay and 47W allowances. In drawing up this code account was taken of the fact that certain allowances would be subject to tax from the beginning of April, 1947, and I see no reason for any adjustment in the particular cases to which the hon. Member refers.