MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesborough)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state the number of seamen who have joined the Royal Naval Reserve since its formation; the date upon which Naval Reserve pensions first became payable; also the number of Naval Reserve men who have received such pensions and the number now in receipt of pensions; whether he is aware that for several years Naval Reserve men have petitioned the various 407 Governments to reduce the age at which Naval Reserve seamen are entitled to receive pensions from 60 to 50 years of age; and whether the Admiralty intend in any way to accede to the petitions of the men?
§ MR. MACARTNEY81,830 seamen, including 4,134 firemen, have joined the Royal Naval Reserve since its formation in 1860. The first Naval Reserve pension for disability was awarded in August, 1866, and for service in August 1880. The number of Naval Reserve men who have received such pensions to this date is:—Disability, 914; Service, 906. The number now in receipt of pensions is:—Disability, 470; Service, 752. The answer to the second paragraph is in the affirmative, and to the third paragraph in the negative.