HC Deb 06 March 1919 vol 113 cc649-50W
Major MORRISON-BELL

asked the Secretary of State for War if the officers of the Indian Army who were taken prisoners of war at Kut-el-Amara were only paid half their Staff pay, thereby putting them at a serious disadvantage as compared with officers of the British Army; and if he can see his way, in consideration of the expense to which these officers were put in Turkey on account of the abnormal prices of everything, to make up to these officers that half of their Staff pay of which they were deprived?

Mr. FISHER

After consultation with the War Office it was decided that Indian Army officer prisoners of war should receive for sixty-one days the full pay of the appointments which they held when captured, and thereafter full pay of rank and half Staff pay of their substantive appointments. As the Indian Army scale of pay is higher than the British Army scale, the Indian Army officer from captain upwards received, even after the expiration of the first sixty-one days, substantially more pay than the British Army officer of corresponding rank, while a lieutenant received practically the same pay as a lieutenant in the British Army. A Government allowance known as Embassy allowance was also granted in consideration of the expenses of living in Turkey.