asked the Minister for Defence whether there is any system of grading Army cooks, and if any special allowance is made to them in view of the fact that they are first on duty in the morning, and last off duty at night, and that they are to a large extent accountable for the health of the Army, and, if not, whether he will undertake to advise such grading and a scale of special pay for Army cooks.

There is at present no system of grading Army cooks and no special allowance is granted to them. The question of additional pay for such cooks as possess requisite qualifications will be dealt with on the setting up of an Army School of Cookery, which is under consideration.

Would the Minister say what special arrangements are made for looking after the digestive organs of the soldiers when there are no proper cooking arrangements?

I did not suggest that there were no proper cooking arrangements. I said that there was no grade pay allowed to cooks pending their going through a school of cookery

Are we to infer from the reply that the cooks are not qualified at present?

They have not diplomas, but we intend to improve them.

Is the Minister aware that on the Estimates last year he informed me that the Army cooks were all eligible for tradesmen's pay and were receiving it?

I do not remember saying so.