CAB129-33 — Page 20

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HIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

10

SECRET

C. P. (49) 43

1ST MARCH, 1949

CABINET

COPY NO.

31

GRANT OF INCREASED MARRIAGE ALLOWANCES

TO NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICERS

Memorandum by the Minister of Defence

On 22nd November,

(C. M. (48) 75th Conclusions, 948, I reported to the Cabinet

with the Chancellor of the Exchequer for increases in both pay and marriage allowances for regular other ranks in the Forces and increases in officers' marriage allowances of 11s. Od a week for officers under the age of 25 (who receive the highest

'other rank' rate) and of 3s. Od a day (for those whose families are in quarters) or 6s.0d a day for other officers over the age of 25. With the approval of the Cabinet I announced the improved rates to the House of 24th November the text of the statement is attached to this memorandum.

2.

When these increases were discussed, prior to this statement with the Chancellor of the Exchequer he pressed strongly that they should not extend to national service men, and to this the Service Ministers and I reluctantly agreed. The position of national service officers, however, was not specifically raised in the discussions and is not explicitly covered by my statement. When, however, the wording of that statement was under discussion a day or two before it was made, the Treasury, at the official level, reserved their position on this point which was left open for subsequent settlement on its merits.

3.

1

My Service colleagues and I were, however, under the impression that the Chancellor had meant by national service men only other ranks and after further consideration we thought it right that the words should be so interpreted. The Chancellor does not accept this interpretation.

4.

The Statement in the House.

Although no specific reference was made in my state- ment to the position of national service officers its form, in my view, does make it most difficult to refuse them the increases given to other officers. The statement deals first with the increases of pay and allowances for other ranks, then makes the reservation that national service men should not receive increases and finally deals with officers; in this form it does, I suggest, at least imply that all officers would get the increases. It may be that the form of the state- ment does not strictly preclude us from withholding the increases from national service officers, but there is no doubt that if we did so we should be accused of bad faith and I am most reluctant to add to the present volume of criticism in the Press and in Parliament of the Forces' pay scales.

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