§ Brigadier Lowasked the Secretary of State for War at what rate of exchange pay and allowances are paid to British officers and men serving in Greece; what special cost-of-living allowances are given; and how these compare with subsistence allowances given to British civilians employed by His Majesty's Government in Greece and with the rate of exchange given by the U.S. Government to their officers and men working in Greece.
§ Mr. BellengerThe rate of exchange is 20,000 drachmae = £1. Local overseas allowance is at present in issue to British troops in Greece at the following daily rates:
— Single. Married. s. d. s. d. General Officer 3 6 9 6 Brigadier 3 4 8 0 Colonel and Lieut.-Colonel 3 3 6 0 Major and below 3 0 4 3 Warran Officer I 1 0 3 0 Warrant Officer II 8 2 6 Staff Sergeant 7 2 6 Sergeant 5 2 3 Rank and File 3 2 0 Officers and other ranks and their families are accommodated under War Department arrangements. It is difficult to make useful comparisons between these rates and rates of allowances given to civilians who serve under different condi- 19W tions and whose allowances are based on different considerations. As I indicated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Marylebone (Sir W. Wakefield) on 1st July, the rates of local allowances issued to officers and other ranks in Greece are being reviewed. I understand that United States military personnel in Greece draw local advances at the official dollar rate of one dollar equals five thousand drachmae.