§ Sir I. PHILIPPSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that officers of the Royal Defence Corps employed as guards and escorts to prisoners of war are often put to considerable expense when proceeding with prisoners to various parts of the Kingdom; and that the special detention allowance of 15s. to meet hotel and other expenses is not allowed when the escort 526W consists of more than three men, when an allowance of 5s. only is granted; whether he is aware that before this 5s. can be obtained an officer must forego his field and ration allowances, with the result that the net travelling allowance is reduced in some cases to 3d. a day; and whether he will consider the possibility of issuing such orders as will prevent the officers employed on these duties from losing money owing to the expenses they must necessarily incur when travelling on such duty?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe hon. and gallant Member is not comparing like with like. An officer travelling on duty alone draws detention allowance of 15s., and pays all his expenses; if proceeding with troops he gets a free billet and 5s. a day. In either case he ceases to draw field allowance and rations or ration allowance. There is no reason for differential treatment of the officers referred to in the question.