§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Defence when the marriage allowance for officers serving in the Royal Malta Artillery was last reviewed; and by what percentage it is estimated that the cost of living has increased since that date.
§ Mr. RamsdenMarriage allowance for officers serving in the Royal Malta Artillery was last reviewed as part of a general review of pay and allowances in 1960, since when the cost of living in Malta has increased by approximately 7.5 per cent.
§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the comparative rates of pension and terminal grants of an able seaman, Royal Navy, a Maltese 68W able seaman, a gunner in the Royal Artillery and a gunner in the Royal Malta Artillery, in each case after 22 years' service.
Mr. RamsdellThe following is the information:
Retirement on or after 1st April, 1964, after 22 years' service Pension Weekly rate. Terminal Grant s. d. £ s. d. Royal Navy AB 55 0 429 0 0 Maltese R.N. AB 55 0 429 0 0 Gunner R.A. 55 0 429 0 0 Gunner R.M.A. 33 0 171 12 0
§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated percentage increase in the cost of living in Malta and in the British Army of the Rhine between 1962–63 and 1963–64; and to what extent this rise has been reflected in the pay and allowances of officers and other ranks of the Royal Malta Artillery serving in the two countries.
§ Mr. RamsdenThe percentage increase in the cost of living between January, 1962, and December, 1963, was 2.7 in Malta and 3.7 in the Federal German Republic.
During the years 1962 to 1964 inclusive the rates of pay and marriage allowance of the Royal Malta Artillery serving in Malta have remained unchanged. The pay rates of officers of the Royal Malta Artillery serving in the British Army of the Rhine are the same as for United Kingdom officers which were increased by 5 per cent. in 1962–63 and by between 7 to 11 per cent. on 1st April, 1964; their marriage allowance was increased in 1964 by between 16 and 18 per cent. The pay rates of other ranks of the Royal Malta Artillery serving in B.A.O.R. approximate to United Kingdom Scale "B" rates which were increased by 13 per cent. in 1962–63 and 7.4 per cent. in 1964; their marriage allowance was increased in 1964 by about 35 per cent.
Local overseas allowance is not calculated solely on the basis of the cost of living figures of the country for which it is intended. The rates for Germany were reviewed last year and the great majority of personnel received an increase.