§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the gross weekly rates of pay before tax currently applicable in the armed forces of each of the member States of the North Atlantic Alliance in respect of volunteer forces of the following ranks:(a) private, (b) senior NCO, 640W and (c) lieutenant, indicating, where appropriate, the length of the standard working week; and whether any additional payments are applicable in respect of overtime or weekend working.
§ Mr. Mulley,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th December 1977; Vol. 940, c. 534], circulated the following answer:
The information requested is as follows:—
(a) Gross weekly pay (in £ sterling at 9th December 1977 exchange rates):
Country Lieutenant Senior NCO (Staff Sergeant) Private Belgium 120 82 70 Canada 107 172 78 Denmark 164 139 122 Germany 113 108 76 Greece 46 29 19 Italy 64 52 10 Luxembourg 165 115 88 Netherlands 136 104 82 Norway 149 143 102 Turkey 49 42 Not available United Kingdom 77 84 52 United States 116 92 56 Footnotes:
(i) Iceland has no Armed Forces; it has not been possible to obtain information for the Portuguese Forces.
(ii) The figures quoted are for basic pay only and do not take account of other benefits which vary widely from country to country.
(iii) Nominally equivalent ranks may not in fact have equivalent responsibilities.
b. Overtime Rates (where applicable)
Belgium: (40 hour week)
Overtime during the week is unpaid but duty on Saturdays attracts a supplement of £5 (Private), £7 (Staff Sergeant) or £10 (Lieutenant). Rates are halved if duty is for less than four hours.
Denmark: (40 hour week)
Overtime for Officers is unpaid. Servicemen are on a basic overtime rate of £0.43 per hour, but £1.00 per hour is paid from 14.00 on Saturdays and all day on Sundays and other official holidays. More than 16 hours continuous work earns an extra day off or £8.8 in lieu.
Netherlands: (40 hour week)
Overtime during the week is unpaid but 1 day off plus £2.30 extra pay is granted for each 24 hours on duty at the weekend or on official holidays.
Norway: (42½ hour week)
Basic rates of pay contain an increment to cover the first 65 hours overtime each year; 641W rates for subsequent overtime up to a maximum of an additional 185 hours a year are £2.40 per hour for a Private, £3.50 for a Staff Sergeant and £3.70 for Officers up to Lieutenant Colonel; supplements of varying amounts are paid for "unusual" working hours.