§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that under Army Order 33, of 1943, an officer with acting rank who lives separated from his wife, or in an irregular union, draws certain allowances in his acting rank, but if he cohabits with his wife, on married rates, he draws allowances corresponding to his lower temporary rank for a period which varies from three to 12 months and may make a difference up to £20 per month; and whether he will take steps to alter this arrangement?
§ Sir J. GriggWhen an officer is separated from his wife he receives the single rate of lodging allowance, if he is not provided with accommodation. If he holds paid acting rank the rate of allowance is determined by that rank. If he is maintaining his family he also receives family lodging allowance, the rates of which vary either with his rank (substantive or paid temporary but not acting), or with the size of his family irrespective of rank, according to the code under which he has elected to be paid When an officer is living with his family he receives the married allowances appropriate to his rank (substantive, war substantive, or paid temporary but not acting) or to1178W the size of his family. Under war-time conditions it is not considered that an officer's family should expect to change its standard of living, even if it were practicable to do so, immediately an officer is promoted to acting rank. After a period varying from three to 12 months acting rank is changed to temporary rank and married allowances appropriate to the rank then become issuable. On the other hand the officer drawing single rates of allowances in respect of his own accommodation, etc., receives the allowances on his paid acting rank because his personal expenses may vary according to his actual rank. An officer living in an irregular union who is not maintaining his wife receives only the single rate of lodging allowance.