HC Deb 03 July 1919 vol 117 cc1192-3W
Mr. NEWBOULD

asked the Secretary of State for War whether British soldiers in Russia are paid in the currency of the country at the prevailing rates of exchange; and whether, in this case, the men are receiving less than one-third of their pay?

Mr. FORSTER

The troops in Russia are paid in local currency. In North Russia they are paid in the new rouble currency established by the Provisional Government under the auspices of the British Treasury, which has a fixed value. In South Russia and Siberia the rate is fixed locally, and is adjusted monthly or fortnightly, as may be necessary, so as to correspond as closely as possible to the commercial rate of exchange for the particular currency in use. The answer to the second part of the question is, therefore, in the negative.