HC Deb 31 October 1918 vol 110 cc1630-1W
Major TERRELL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether temporary officers commissioned under paragraph 425 of Pay Warrant and subsequently promoted to be acting captains whilst employed as ordnance officers, fourth class, receive whilst so employed the pay and allowances of fourth-class ordnance officers, or, if not, why not?

Mr. FORSTER

Such officers draw the pay of their rank at Infantry rates with an addition of 5s. a day, as provided under the Article of the Royal Warant referred to. They are not ordnance officers, fourth class, and consequently do not draw pay as such.

Colonel YATE

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Army Council will reconsider the question and recommend the alteration of the Royal Warrant of August last with a view to the payment of gratuities to widows of officers who have lost their lives by dysentery and other diseases contracted on service as well as to the widows of officers who have been killed or who died of wounds received on service?

Mr. FORSTER

All these questions have been very fully considered during the present War and decided by supreme authority. The Army Council do not propose to recommend that they should be reopened.

General McCALMONT

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a, recently issued Army Order permits service in temporary but not acting rank to be reckoned for such purposes as retired pay; whether the effect of such an Order would be that while regimental officers who receive acting rank for the temporary command of troops in the field are ignored those officers who receive temporary rank for Staff and other appointments, or for command of troops at home, will benefit; and, if so, whether he can state the reason for this discrimination?

Mr. FORSTER

I am not aware of any such Army Order nor of any discrimination between temporary and acting rank as regards retired pay. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will give me more particulars

Mr. BYRNE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to secure the same pay and allowances for British soldiers as that paid to the Australian forces?

Mr. FORSTER

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 23rd October to the hon. Member for Bradford West.