HC Deb 14 May 1958 vol 588 cc25-6W
Sir A. Bossom

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware that it is the custom in certain professions or large businesses to set aside a small percentage payment as an insurance in order to recoup any sums paid out by mistake in the salaries or wages of their personnel; and if he will give consideration to a similar arrangement in the pay departments of each of the three Services, so as to avoid the hardship now inflicted upon members of the Services who have to pay back such sums given to them by a mistake on the part of a Paymaster and for which the Service men themselves were in no way responsible.

Mr. Sandys

Recovery of over issues of pay received in good faith may be waived in cases where hardship would result. In other cases repayment may be effected by instalments in accordance with the scale that takes into account the Service man's rate of pay. The setting up of a separate insurance fund for this purpose is contrary to Government accounting practice.