§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why members of the Observer Corps, in Malaya, have their pay during internment limited to £300, whereas members of other civil defence services get full pay less 10 per cent.; and if he will take steps to remove this anomaly.
Mr. Creech JonesThose members of the Observer Corps of Malaya who were not in receipt of salary from other sources were paid at a rate approved by the local authority, the normal rate being 10 dollars a day, which was considerably more than the average allowance payable to members of other civil defence services. Most Observers were also members 161W of the local Defence Corps and were treated as such in the matter of pay during internment. It was felt that it would be inequitable to pay the remaining observers who did not also belong to any other Service at a higher rate than that appropriate to members of other defence services, and the conclusion was reached that a maximum ex gratia payment of £300 would be appropriate, this being approximate the accrued pay of a staff warden in the A.R.P. or of a sergeant in the special constabulary whose duties involved comparable responsibility.