“Charter For The Other Ranks”

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1945, Page 5

“Charter For The Other Ranks”

(Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19. All-round pay increases for British serviceme*, to opei-ate from July 1, 1946, double basic pre-war rates for entry into all services.

The new rates provide substantial increases for trained men. Text new pay codes, which were announced in a White Paper, represented “a charter for the other ranks,” said Mr A. V. Alexander. They were planned to bring the remuneration to servicemen in line with civilian wages. The code provided for a payment of 28/- a week to recruits in all services and 42/- a week for trained men, for instance, able seaman, leading aircraftman or private, with two years of service. . MARRIAGE ALLOWANCE The plan fixed a marriage allowance* of 35/- a week. This might be taken, in the case of a married man' receiving a marriage allowance, as equivalent to a civilian wage of £5 a week, said Mr Alexander. , It had been decided to discontinue the payment of additions in respect to the number of children/ but wives of servicemen would be eligible for the proposed family allowance of 5/- a week for each child after the first, Mr Alexander pointed out that under the new pay code varying, scales of remuneration for various groups in. the services would be discarded and in future there would be a maximum of four pay scales, thus enabling the soldier with military skill only to earn the same pay as an army tradesman.

NEW CODE FOR OFFICERS A new pay code for officers was now being considered and an announcement would be made in two or three months. Viscount Stansgate said there would be no further commissioning of aircrew after training except for command and management posts. Ail aircrew enlisted in future would be eligible for commissions. The position of aircrew at present serving would be dealt with later.