§ Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been directed to the recently reported extravagance in connection with the Air Force; whether it is proposed at an early date to reduce the war pay of officers and permanent officials in the service of the Air Board; and what arrangements are being made to effect economies?
§ Sir S. HOAREIn answer to the first part of the question, I am at present considering the Report of the Select Committee on the Air Estimates, to which my hon. Friend no doubt refers. In answer to the second part, Royal Air Force officers are in receipt of the rates of pay fixed in 1919, but such rates are due for revision in 1924 and the basis on which this should be done is now under consideration. I may add that officers' allowances, which are in lieu of issues in kind (rations, fuel and light, etc), are frequently reviewed and adjusted to meet current costs. If by permanent officials my hon. Friend refers to the civil servants at the Air Ministry, they are in receipt of war pay only in so far as, in common with other civil servants, they receive cost of living bonus, which is frequently revised. As regards the last part of the question, the rates of pay of the fighting services and of the Civil Service are at present under investigation by the Committee of which Sir Alan Anderson is chairman, and the question of effecting any economies in other directions that may be practicable is under constant review by the Air Ministry.