asked the Minister for Defence if he can state the number of Volunteers, married and unmarried, in the Army Corps of Engineers who are not receiving any additional pay, and the number who are in receipt of 9d., 1s. 6d., 2s., and 3s. each per day, and the qualifications and classification of each section who are in receipt of the respective amounts; also whether or not the Officer in Command of the Army Corps of Engineers has full power to decide what additional allowance each soldier is entitled to receive.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
The number of private soldiers in the Army Corps of Engineers who are not at present receiving additional pay is 44 married and 125 unmarried.
The number who are in receipt of such pay at the rates of 9d., 1/6, 2/-, and 3/- a day are respectively:—
married privates 3, 14, 25 and 74.
unmarried privates 2, 6, 35 and 56.
Employments fall into two groups for the purpose of this pay. At present the 9d. and 1/6 rates are being issued to technical storemen, plate-layers and blacksmith strickers, according to degree of proficiency at their work, and the 2/- and 3/- rates on the basis of skill to draughtsmen, carpenters, bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, fitters, painters, blacksmiths, slaters, plasterers, engine drivers, searchlight operators, rivetters, boilermakers, drillers, fetlers and riggers.
The grant of the particular rate in each case is determined on the recommendation of the Officer Commanding the Corps, which is based on special trade tests or inspections of actual work done as reported by his subordinate officers. His recommendation is ordinarily accepted, provided that the number of soldiers prescribed by regulations for the particular employment in the Corps is not exceeded.