B.-PAY AND PERSONAL ALLOWANCES OF AIRMEN.

1. Pay. The scales of pay for the various groups and ranks of the R.A.F. are shown in Appendix 3, and King's Regulations Chapter XXXIX. National Health Insurance.-A serving airman does not require benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts (except maternity benefit for his wife), but part of the contribution normally paid by a young insured person is used in building up a reserve against extra liability to sickness in later years, and in future societies will not accept new members over 16 years of age unless paid a sum in respect of these savings (" transfer value ").

A payment from Air Votes of 3d. a week in respect of each serving airman (representing both employer's and employee's contribution) is therefore made in order to provide for maternity benefit and for the above "transfer value" on an airman leaving the service.

A serving airman may be a member of an approved society-otherwise his contributions are paid into the Navy, Army, and Air Force Insurance Fund.

Unemployment Insurance.-Under the Unemployment Insurance Acts 1920-26 a capitation grant is paid by the Air Ministry to the Unemployment Fund on the discharge of an airman except at his own request or through his own act.

This grant is sufficient to render the airman immediately eligible for the same benefits under the Acts as are applicable to a civilian with 156 weekly contributions to his credit. The capitation grant is at present fixed by the Government Actuary at 10ľ.

Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions.-Under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act 1925, a contribution of 9d. a week is payable in respect of every serving airman over 16 years of age. The employer's contribution (4d. a week) is paid from Air funds, and the employee's contribution (4d. a week) is deducted from the airman's pay.

2. Allowances.-Badge Pay.-Badges are awarded for 'V.G.' conduct after three, eight and thirteen years' service. Good conduct pay at 3d. a day is awarded for each badge.

Hard Lying Money is paid at naval rates and under naval conditions to the crews of marine craft living and sleeping on board certain types of craft operating in the open sea.

Interpreter and Schoolmaster Allowances are paid in respect of the actual days on which an airman is employed on these duties.

Crew Pay is issuable at the rate of 1s. a day to the regular flying crew of all aircraft who are definitely borne on an establishment for duty in aircraft.

This item also includes provision of 2s. a day for airmen undergoing training as pilots.

Physical Training Instructors' Allowances are paid to airmen qualified as instructors at the rate of 1s. or 8d. a day, according to the degree of qualification.

Air Gunners' Allowances are paid at the rate of 6d. a day to qualified airmen whilst borne on an establishment as air gunners.

Signalling Instructors' Allowances are paid at the rate of 1s. a day to airmen qualified as visual signalling instructors.

Colonial Allowance.-This allowance, varying in amount according to rank and station, is in aid of extra expenses incurred by airmen serving in certain overseas territories.

VOTE 1.-PAY, &C., OF THE AIR FORCE-continued.

VOTE 1.-PAY, &C., OF THE AIR FORCE-continued.

B. PAY AND PERSONAL ALLOWANCES OF AIRMEN-contd.

Field Allowance is granted to Sergeant-Majors, Classes I and II, at the rate of 1s. and 6d. a day respectively towards extra expenses caused to them when accommodated under canvas, or in temporary hutments, &c., not equipped at public expense in excess of the scales laid down for warrant officers' tents in standing camps, or when in bivouac or on active service in the field.

Service Police.-Airmen of the non-technical group (Group 5), duly qualified as Service Police, are eligible for duty pay of 6d. to 18. a day whilst so employed in certain Royal Air Force establishments.

Drivers.-Additional pay at the rate of 3d. a day is granted under certain conditions to airmen of the non-technical group (Group 5.) employed as drivers (petrol, steam, or winch).

The decrease is due to the reduced number of airmen under training owing to the slowing down of the expansion scheme, to the transfer to Vote 6 of the charge for the airmen staff of the Electrical and Wireless School and the School of Technical Training (Men), to the substitution of civilians for airmen in certain trades, and to a reduction in the garrisons of Iraq, and Palestine.

C.--MARRIAGE ALLOWANCE.

Marriage allowance is normally payable to the wives and in respect of the legitimate children and step-children of married airmen who have attained the age of 26 years.

The present scales of marriage allowance are shown in Appendix 3. The rate of the allowance is subject to annual revision in April of each year in accordance with variations in the cost of living index figures.

The allowance is subject to a maximum deduction of 7s. a week where the family is living in public quarters or where an allowance in lieu of such quarters is granted.

D.--MISCELLANEOUS ALLOWANCES AND PAYMENTS.

1. Outfit Allowance to Officers.

A grant in aid of the purchase of uniform is issued to officers appointed to commissions in the Royal Air Force. The normal grant is £50.

2. Other Allowances. Provision is here taken for defraying, under certain conditions, the funeral expenses of officers and airmen.

A Library Allowance is granted for the provision and upkeep of books, newspapers, etc., and as a contribution towards the expenses of units' libraries and reading rooms.

3. Capitation payments to Dominion Governments for training of officers. With a view to securing closer co-operation with the Dominion Air Services, agreements have been reached which provide inter alia for pilots trained by the Dominion Air Services to be seconded to the Royal Air Force with short service commissions. They will return to their parent Service on completion of their term of duty with the Royal Air Force. An agreed proportion of the cost of training will be borne by Air Funds and provision is taken in this item for a payment to be made to the Australian Government in respect of officers joining the Royal Air Force under this scheme.

E. CIVILIANS.

1. Salaries. Provision is made under this Subhead for the following:(a) The salaries of the clerical and supervising staffs at the Store Depôts at Kidbrooke, Altrincham, Milton, Ruislip and Ascot.

The establishments and the rates of pay are fixed by the Treasury. (b) A number of miscellaneous appointments including certain Civilian Assistants for administrative duties who have been appointed in substitution of Royal Air Force officers, etc.

2. Wages. Includes provision for wages of civilian employees at home and abroad, including the pay of Indian and native civilians attached to the Royal Air Force in the Middle East, Palestine and Iraq, but excluding those employed in Recruiting Offices (Vote 1.G), Air Ministry (Vote 10), Experimental and Research Establishments (Vote 3), Civil Aviation (Vote 8), Educational Establishments (Vote 6), Meteorological Outstations (Vote 9), Medical Services (Vote 5), and in Royal Air Force Laundries (Vote 2).

The rates paid are those obtaining locally for similar classes of labour. Provision is also made for civilian warders at the Store Depôts.

The decrease on this subhead, due to reductions effected in Iraq and Palestine, would have been greater but for the process of substitution of airmen by civilians at Home (see explanation under Subhead B).