§ SIR CAMERON GULL (Devon, Barnstaple)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether it is the case that, though previously to 1883 armourer sergeants of the Royal Marines were upon an equality with armourer sergeants of the Army, both as regards pay and pension, by a Warrant of that year the position of armourer sergeants in the Army was improved without similar advantages being granted to armourer sergeants in the Royal Marines; and, whether, having regard to the fact that, by Order in Council of 27th November, 1887, all non-commissioned officers, Royal Marines, have been assimilated with those of corresponding rank in the Army, with the exception of the armourer sergeants, he will consider the propriety of placing the armourer sergeants in the Royal Marines on an equality, both as regards pay and pension, with those of corresponding rank in the Army.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. W. E. MACARTNEY,) Antrim, S.The pay of armourer sergeants in the Army was revised in the year 1883, a graduated scale commencing at 2s. 6d. a day, and rising to 6s. after ten years service, being substituted for the rates previously in force. This revised scale was not applied to Marine armourer sergeants, who receive 5s. 7½d. per diem from the commencement of their service. With respect to pension, the Order in Council of 28th November, 1887, improved, to some extent, the pensions of certain non-commissioned officers, Royal Marines, but did not assimilate their pensions with those of corresponding ranks in the Army. The classification in the two services still remains distinct. The armourer sergeant, Royal Marines, 189 is pensioned on the scale that applies to every other sergeant of Royal Marines; and no alteration could be contemplated in his case without bringing his rate of pay into accordance with the graduated scale referred to above.