Oral Answers to Questions — British Army. – in the House of Commons at on 28 May 1941.
Mr John Dugdale
, West Bromwich
asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to be in a position to make a statement on the subject of allowances for married officers under the age of 30?
Mr Richard Law
, Kingston upon Hull South West
I am afraid I can give no definite date, but the review of these allowances now in progress will be expedited as much as possible.
Mr John Dugdale
, West Bromwich
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the distinction made between officers over 30 and under 30 is due to the fact that in the Regular Army officers were discouraged from marrying at an early age, and in view of the fact that the great Majority of the present Army is composed of temporary soldiers, many of whom married before they entered the army, will he see whether some alteration cannot be made?
Mr Richard Law
, Kingston upon Hull South West
Yes, Sir, I am aware of the circumstances which gave rise to this distinction, but I can only assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the matter is under consideration. It does not affect the War Office only. We will get a decision as quickly as possible.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The term "majority" is used in two ways in Parliament. Firstly a Government cannot operate effectively unless it can command a majority in the House of Commons - a majority means winning more than 50% of the votes in a division. Should a Government fail to hold the confidence of the House, it has to hold a General Election. Secondly the term can also be used in an election, where it refers to the margin which the candidate with the most votes has over the candidate coming second. To win a seat a candidate need only have a majority of 1.
