§ Mr. LOWS SMITHasked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the pay of officers and men of the Army, respectively, is based upon the cost-of-living index; what percentage reduction of standard rates is now in force; and whether he is satisfied that the cost-of-living index is a fair criterion of living costs as applicable to the personnel of the Army?
§ Mr. SHAWUnder Article 2 (a) of the Royal Warrant for pay, 20 per cent. of the standard pay of officers is subject to revision in relation to variations in the cost-of-living since July, 1919. The pay of other ranks is not liable to any revision. A reduction of 7 per cent. is at present applied to standard rates of officers' pay. This will become 8 per cent. as from 1st July, 1931. It is not suggested that the Ministry of Labour Index provides an exact measure of the cost of living of Army officers, but, as stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour in answer to a question by the hon. Member on Thursday last the information necessary to the compilation of a separate series of index numbers, appropriate to classes of Government employés of a non-industrial type, is not available.
1256WAct, 1929, for the administrative county of Somerset, the names of the statutory authorities, and the cost of the schemes?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEFollowing is the information desired: