§ Mr. CROOKSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that quartermasters, riding-masters, and similar officers who have attained such positions after many years' service in the Army only receive pay equal to that of a second-lieutenant, although they hold commissions; whether he is aware that when the minimum rates for captains, lieutenants, and second-lieutenants were increased officers of the quartermaster class were excluded; and whether he will take into consideration their claim for some increase in pay?
§ Mr. FORSTERMy right hon. Friend does not state the facts quite correctly. A small increase was made in the minimum rate for quartermasters, and they were also given the new children's allowances. All the circumstances were fully considered by the War Cabinet.
§ Sir I. PHILIPPSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the terms of service, as regards pay, clothing, and free rations, under which men enlisted in the Army prior to 4th August, 1914; whether any allowances have been paid to or credited to soldiers who are or have been prisoners of war on account of clothing and free rations not 2326W issued to them; and whether any allowances have been made to prisoners of war in Germany or in Holland and Switzerland or credited to their accounts on account of the increased cost of living in those countries and the impossibility of providing these men with the clothing and rations to which they are entitled under their terms of enlistment?
§ Mr. FORSTERA man enlisted before August, 1914, was entitled to pay and such rations in kind as might be issued to him. As regards clothing, he was entitled in peace-time to an allowance out of which, together with his pay, if necessary, he had to provide his clothing. In war-time he is entitled to no allowance, but clothing is issued to him in kind as may be necessary and practicable.
Prisoners of war under the Hague Convention are fed and clothed by the captor Government. They are not entitled to money allowances from their own Government, but my hon. and gallant Friend is aware that British prisoners have not been left entirely to the mercies of captor Governments in these respects. Prisoners interned in neutral countries have been issued with British clothing in kind, and provided with food at the expense of the British Government.
§ General McCALMONTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the rates of retired pay are unaffected by Army Council Instruction No. 1164 of 1918?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes, Sir.