§ COLONEL SANDYS (Lancashire, S.W., Bootle)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is intended shortly to dress the men of the Royal Naval Reserve in a woollen jersey instead of in a serge frock or jumper; whether he is aware that a good jersey cannot be 1462 obtained for the price proposed to be given for this one, so that the jersey proposed to be issued must necessarily be of an inferior kind; if he is aware that a jersey uniform is looked upon by a man-of-war's man as being characteristic of the ordinary crew of a merchant ship leaving port or of the "longshore boatman," and therefore not fit for men of the Royal Navy or Royal Naval Reserve; whether he is aware that a seaman's uniform has been designed, consisting of blue frock and collar, trousers, neck handkerchief, wide collar, lanyard, cap and ribbon, which would be highly popular with the men of the Royal Naval Reserve, and which can be served out to the men of that force at a cost which will save the Admiralty by its issue £1,625 a year; and whether, in view of the fact that this suggested jersey uniform will place the men of the Royal Naval Reserve at a disadvantage in appearance with their comrades of the Royal Navy when serving on board Her Majesty's ships of war, he will consider the advisability of forthwith issuing this blue serge frock uniform to the men of the Royal Naval Reserve instead of the proposed jersey uniform, with a view to add to the popularity among them of that important branch of the Royal Navy?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONThe uniform which has been finally approved for the Royal Naval Reserve consists of one blue jumper (serge), two flannels, two collars, one black silk handkerchief, one pair blue tartan trousers, one cap and ribbon. Until arrangements have been made for supplying this uniform, the present uniform will continue to be issued. It is not intended to supply the so-called jersey uniform. The cost of the approved new uniform will be about 2s. 8d. per man more than the present uniform in use.