HC Deb 16 June 1938 vol 337 cc408-9W
Vice-Admiral Taylor

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the pay of equivalent ranks, below rank of admiral, of officers in the Navy, Army and Air Force, with the marriage allowances, on the same lines as the answer given to a similar question on 9th April, 1924?

Mr. Cooper

The following statement gives the information my hon. and gallant Friend requires:

Royal Air Force (General duties branch).‡.§
Rank. Pay per diem. Lodging allowance per diem. Furniture allowance per diem. Fuel and light allowance per diem (average) Ration allowance per diem. Servant allowance per diem. Total per annum.
£ s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d £
Group Captain 2 9 10. 5 6. 2 0. 4 0. 1 8. 4 0. 1,223
to to
2 18 0 1,372
Wing Commander 1 16 2. 4 6. 2 0. 3 0. 1 8. 2 0. 900
to to
2 5 4. 1,068
Squadron Leader 1 10 10. 4 6. 2 0. 3 0. 1 8. 2 0. 803
to to
1 12 6. 833
Flight Lieutenant, over 30 years of age. 1 5 4. 4 6. 2 0. 2 10. 1 8. 2 0. 700
N.B.—Although the columns are set out above comparing officers of the same relative rank in the three Services, a matter of importance which must be borne in mind in contrasting the rates of emoluments is the age at which these are attained.
* These officers when in command receive an allowance in respect of the responsibilities of command and the expense of entertaining.
† Not payable to officers below the rank of Captain, except in the case of Commanders holding certain specified appointments which may be regarded as "in command of a ship or establishment" or a position of equivalent importance and in the case of Flag Lieutenants and Secretaries to (i) the Commanders-in-Chief of the three Home Ports and (ii) Flag Officers in command of other shore establishments when servants would normally be allowed by complement.
†Married officers of the Army and Royal Air Force who are separated from their families by the exigencies of the Service receive a consolidated family lodging allowance instead of the lodging, furniture, fuel and light allowances shown above. In addition if they are not themselves accommodated at the public expense they receive the lower "single" rates of the allowances in lieu. Married officers of the Royal Navy in similar circumstances if not accommodated at the public expense draw Lodging Allowance in addition to the allowances shown above.
§In comparing R.A.F. emoluments with those in other Services it should be borne in mind that the R.A.F. pay scheme is based on the issue of an inclusive rate of pay for each rank, and seniority in the rank, without additions for special qualifications or for special employments. There is no corps pay or staff pay, as in the Army, or specialist pay as in the Navy, though almost all R.A.F. officers holding permanent commissions are required to obtain some special qualification or to be employed in Staff Appointments or both, further, officers of the R.A.F. are required to serve in squadrons, whether in command or in a junior capacity, and thus to incur flying risk; even when not so employed they are still required to fly. Thus, in insuring their lives such officers have to pay extra premium in respect of flying risk. In any comparison of basic rates, these considerations are of importance.