I might give the Minister an example. I do not know whether or not it is typical but I think it is reasonably representative. I have particulars of the case of a person who retired from the Army and who was appointed to a position in the State service. This person is married. Since he was appointed, he has been denied the total of £72 a year children's allowances. The twelve per cent cost of living increase which all State officials got from February, 1964, and, in addition, this particular aspect of it, might however be regarded as to some extent in a different position. In addition, he lost the full status increase which applied to all civil servants from January, 1964. The total loss which this man suffered amounted, up to the end of last month, to approximately £675. The retrospection, as the measure stands, would amount to about £240, which would leave him with a net loss of £435. At present, the Department of Defence in this case, and, I understand, in certain other cases, are seeking a return because the person in question was overpaid on account of the status adjustment.
I believe there is a very strong case for making this measure retrospective, in the same way as the 12 per cent or the ninth round was made retrospective. In this particular case, and I understand in other cases, the position is that if the person concerned had remained in the Army he would now be drawing approximately £200-£300 or more than he is drawing at present because of the increased pay which became operative in respect of the rank which he holds. Instead of that, he was appointed to his present position at the very minimum scale. Undoubtedly, anyone who accepted such an appointment accepted it on those terms, but I think it is unfair that the abatement provision should apply in respect of at least the cost of living element of it.
As I mentioned on Second Stage, in some of these cases the persons concerned have not benefited from the seventh, eight or ninth round—at least up to the present they did not benefit from the ninth round. All these were cost of living increases. The status adjustment is probably to some extent a separate matter although it applied to all the personnel affected by it who were either in the Army or the Civil Service. I think there is a strong case for making the measure retrospective to some extent as the increase in respect of the ninth round, or the 12 per cent if you like, was granted in respect of cost of living increase. In view of the comparatively small total sum involved, it does, I think, inflict considerable hardship on a number of ex-Army personnel. To that extent, I should like to urge the Minister to have this matter reconsidered.