Armed Forces

Oral Answers to Questions — Poles, United Kingdom – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 8 July 1947.

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Photo of Mr Henry Hynd Mr Henry Hynd , Hackney Central 12:00, 8 July 1947

asked the Secretary of State for War what will be done with the 5,000 Polish troops who will neither join the Polish Resettlement Corps nor return to Poland.

Photo of Mr Frederick Bellenger Mr Frederick Bellenger , Bassetlaw

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 10th June.

Photo of Mr Stephen Taylor Mr Stephen Taylor , Barnet

asked the Secretary of State for War how the cost of pay and allowances of £54 a month on an average each for the 5,000 Poles still in uniform and on Service pay in this country compares with the cost in pay and allowances of a group of British Service men of comparable rank.

Photo of Mr Frederick Bellenger Mr Frederick Bellenger , Bassetlaw

My hon Friend is under a misapprehension. The average monthly cost per head of pay and allowances for members of the Polish Land Forces in this country is only a small fraction of the figure mentioned in the Question. Generally speaking, the pay of members of the Polish Land Forces is lower than the pay of British Army personnel with comparable rank and length of service.

Photo of Mr Stephen Taylor Mr Stephen Taylor , Barnet

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I worked out the figure of £54 on the basis of an answer he gave me last week, in which he stated the total pay and allowances and number of Poles on Service pay in this country?

Photo of Mr Frederick Bellenger Mr Frederick Bellenger , Bassetlaw

I guessed that my hon. Friend had done that, and that is why I gave him this answer. The difference between him and me is that he has worked out this sum wrongly.

Photo of Mr Stephen Taylor Mr Stephen Taylor , Barnet

With due respect to my right hon. Friend, may I remind him that I have done the sum right? He gave figures of £240,000 and about 6,000 Poles, and it was a matter of simple arithmetic. Where does the extra money go?

Photo of Mr Frederick Bellenger Mr Frederick Bellenger , Bassetlaw

I think my hon. Friend used the wrong method in arriving at his answer. The total sum which I mentioned in my previous answer does not relate only to pay and allowances of recalcitrants; it covers many others.

Photo of Major Donald Bruce Major Donald Bruce , Portsmouth North

My right hon. Friend said "generally speaking." Can he give us an instance of where members of the Polish Armed Forces are paid more than members of our Forces?

Photo of Mr Frederick Bellenger Mr Frederick Bellenger , Bassetlaw

Not without notice, but, generally speaking, they are paid appreciably less.

Photo of Mr William Gallacher Mr William Gallacher , Fife Western

Will the right hon. Gentleman work out a method of getting these men back to Poland, and thus save a lot of money?

Photo of Mr Frederick Bellenger Mr Frederick Bellenger , Bassetlaw

I have worked out a method, but, unfortunately, so many do not want to go 'back to Poland.