HC Deb 20 February 1919 vol 112 cc1168-70W
Captain DIXON

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that deputy-assistant directors, remounts, and district remount officers are precluded from drawing rations or allowance in lieu of rations; whether, in view of the high cost of living, he can see his way to grant these officers rations or ration money; whether he is aware that these officers are the only officers in the Army outside the War Office who are excluded from this benefit; and whether he is aware that by the Mobilisation Regulations it is laid down that all officers are to draw rations irrespective of their being on consolidated pay or not?

Captain GUEST

These officers, in common with some other classes, are in receipt of special rates of pay inclusive of allowances. These rates of pay were increased in December, 1917, in view of the increased cost of living. My hon. and gallant Friend has, I think, misunderstood the force of the passage relating to rations in the Mobilisation Regulations. Those, Regulations are not an authority entitling officers to emoluments, but an administrative direction as to when the supply in kind of rations not supplied in peace should begin.

Mr. RENDALL

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in assessing the gratuities to officers, any regard whatever is being refused to the acting rank of the officer concerned; whether this is so however long such acting rank may have been held; and is he prepared to consider recommending that the acting rank shall be taken into consideration if it has been held for not less than a stated time?

Captain GUEST

As stated in the note appended to Army Order IV. of the 13th February, this question is under consideration. I hope that a decision will be readied very shortly.

Major LLOYD-GREAME

asked the Secretary for War whether it has been decided to award to Regular officers a war gratuity on a lower scale than that applicable to temporary officers; and, if so, whether he will reconsider the decision and raise the scale for Regular officers to that granted to temporary officers?

Captain GUEST

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ripon.

Colonel ASHLEY

asked the Secretary for War whether, in view of the fact that hospital charges are now remitted, he will consider the possibility, in cases where the grant of £3 3s. per week under Army Council Instruction 1,815, of 1917, to officers undergoing treatment in sanatoria does not cover the cost of expenses and incidentals such as necessary drugs, of increasing the amount of such grant so that no part of the coat of treatment falls on the officer; and whether the case of Captain E. Harrison, Rifle Brigade, who underwent treatment at Mendip sanatorium, can be reconsidered to this end?

Captain GUEST

I will consider this suggestion and have inquiry made into the case of Captain Harrison.

Sir SAMUEL SCOTT

asked the Secretary for War whether a combatant officer who is brought, into a regiment to act as quartermaster receives 2s. a day extra, thereby making his pay higher than that of a quartermaster of the rank of lieutenant; and whether he will consider the advisability of granting quartermasters and riding-masters the pay of their rank with an addition as extra duty pay as in the case of adjutants?

Captain GUEST

A combatant officer performing the duties of quartermaster receives under the Royal Warrant 2s. per day extra pay for the additional work he performs. I am afraid I cannot adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion that an officer commissioned expressly for the purpose of performing certain duties should receive extra duty pay for performing them.

Major BOYD-CARPENTER

asked the Secretary for War if he is aware that dentists temporarily commissioned in the Royal Army Medical Corps for the period of the War are debarred from receiving, on the termination of their employment, the gratuity issued to all other officers similarly commissioned; and has he any statement to make on the matter?

Captain GUEST

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on Tuesday last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wandsworth, Central.