asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that a deduction of 10d. per day (from the first week of January, 1951) was made from the allowance paid to married N.C.O.s on duty with the F.C.A. as battalion administrative officers and who were living with their families; and, if so, whether he is prepared to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Battalion Administrative Officers—Allowance Reduction.
I am aware that a deduction of 10d. a day from some 61 married personnel, living locally with their families, was made on the 23rd February, 1951. This sum was intended to meet the extra cost to married or single personnel who might find it necessary to engage lodgings. The position is that, on the examination of the allowances for the purpose of the readjustment mentioned, it was found that the existing regulations enabled the 61 men referred to to receive the same allowance (4/1 a day) as men living in lodgings. As that allowance contained an element in respect of the cost of lodgings, it would have been inappropriate that they should continue to draw it, and they were placed on the appropriate allowance of 3/3 a day.