§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether it is a fact that, whilst the pension of a sergeant-major in the Army is 3s. per diem, and that of a staff or other sergeants 2s. 6d. per diem, the pension of a sergeant-major in the Royal Marines is only 2s. 6d. and that of other sergeants 2s. 3d. per diem; whether a similar difference exists in the relative pay of other officers; and, whether there is any valid reason for the existence of such an inequality; and, if not, whether Her Majesty's Government will take steps to remove that which appeal's to be an invidious distinction between different branches of the Service?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe difference, which is owing to the improvement recently effected in the Army pensions, between the pensions of sergeant majors of the Marines and of the Army and of other sergeants in the Marines and of the Army is correctly stated by the right hon. Member. There is a difference between the pay of the non-commissioned officers of the Army and the Marines; but I am not prepared to admit that the effect of the conditions under which the 1707 Marines serve as compared with those of the Army is, on the whole, unfavourable to the Marines. I will consider with my Colleagues whether any improvement can be made in the rate of pension.