Oral Answers to Questions — British Army – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 August 1947.
Sir Jocelyn Lucas
, Portsmouth South
12:00,
12 August 1947
asked the Secretary of State for War if the cut in pensions made in 1930–31 in the case of retired officers will now be restored, in view of the higher cost of living and increased taxation.
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence to a question by the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Vane) on 14th May.
Sir Jocelyn Lucas
, Portsmouth South
Could we know what was the answer to that question? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these officers are in sore straits, and that wound and other pensions have been increased?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
On the previous occasion this Question was addressed to the Minister of Defence, who was answering for all three Services, and he said it was not possible to grant further increases on consolidated rates of retired pay beyond those obtained by applying the terms of the Pensions Increase Act, 1947.
Lieut-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore
, Ayr District of Burghs
Why should these retired officers who have served their country equally with others be singled out for a special act of injustice?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
This matter has been debated very fully in the House on more than one occasion, and I have nothing further to add to what has been said.
Colonel Sir Alan Gomme-Duncan
, Perth
Will the right hon. Gentleman go into this matter again? Why should the Civil Service, for instance, have very much more improved prospects for pensions than these retired officers, who surely might have at least the same?
Mr Edward Fleming
, Manchester, Withington
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these retired officers, through ill health and no fault of their own, are now incapable of getting any employment? Will he ask his right hon. Friends, particularly the Minister of Labour, to look into the matter?
Sir Godfrey Nicholson
, Farnham
Will the right hon. Gentleman refer to the last Pensions Act, of 1947? Is he aware that so far, that does not apply to officers of the Indian Army; and will he ask the Secretary of State for India to have that matter looked into, and register in his mind the profound dissatisfaction of many of these retired officers?
Mr Tufton Beamish
, Lewes
Will the right hon. Gentleman at any rate undertake to look at the matter again?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
The matter is not entirely one for me. No doubt the Minister of Defence, who considers all these questions in relation to the three Services, will note what has been said in the House.
Colonel Sir Alan Gomme-Duncan
, Perth
Will the right hon. Gentleman urge the Minister of Defence to do so?
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.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
