§ Colonel YATEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that, owing to the rise in the exchange, the members of military nursing services in Mesopotamia are now being mulcted of a large portion of their pay, so much so that sisters of the Imperial Military Nursing Service are now only receiving Rs. 154 instead of Rs. 231, and staff nurses only Rs. 137 instead of Rs. 206 per mensem; and, considering that the local cost of living is just as high as before, will he direct that the nursing staff are to be paid at the fixed rate of 1s. 4d. to the rupee, the same as the non-commissioned officers and men?
§ Mr. FORSTERMy hon. and gallant Friend is misinformed. Instructions were issued some time ago that the Nursing Service in Mesopotamia should receive, at the 1s. 4d. rupee, 10 per cent. of their pay with the whole of their board, washing, and field allowance, as from 1st April, 1919. This amount is ample to cover their necessary expenditure in Mesopotamia.