§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that the withdrawal of the married allowance to commissioned officers in the Forces who have not attained age 25, and who are told they must attain that age before qualifying for allowance, has caused much dissatisfaction, especially as this discrimination is not made in the case of other ranks; and, as representations made by the Naval and Military Committee of the British Medical Association to the three Service Departments protesting against this discrimination, have had no effect, will he rectify this injustice.
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§ Mr. AlexanderThe Post-War Code of Pay and Allowances (Cmd. 6750) provided that the age at which an officer qualified for marriage allowance should be reduced from the prewar limit of 30 to 25. As the hon. Member will be aware, however, it has since been decided that married officers below that age shall receive an allowance at the modified rate of 45s. a week, which is equivalent to the highest rate of marriage allowance paid to other ranks. With this addition the remuneration of officers under 25 does not compare unfavourably with that of civilians of similar age and qualifications. It is not, therefore, proposed to alter the present arrangements.