§ Petty Officer Herbertasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before any final decision on the gratuities and payments to be made to members of the Armed Forces on their discharge, His Majesty's Government will consider the adoption of the principle that the scale of such payments should be related, not to rank or seniority, but length of service only, since the purpose of these is to restore the combatant to civil life and in civil life all men are equal and should have equal treatment.
§ Sir J. AndersonNo, Sir. I do not think it appropriate that the payments made to a member of the Forces on his release should disregard the factor of rank attained, which has been an important element in the determination of his emoluments throughout his service.
§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon what principle the Government is acting in making a differentiation between men and women 45W in the gratuities provided for resettlement of members of the Forces on their return to civil life by awarding female members of the Forces only two-thirds of the rates for corresponding male members; and if he will reconsider that differentiation.
§ Sir J. AndersonThe Government are following the same general principle which has throughout governed the pay of the women's services. They see no ground for adopting a different principle at this stage.