§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether the shipwright pensioners entered in the Dockyard Reserve in November, 1899, are entitled to the benefit of the Admiralty Order of 30th October, 1899, 1080 which gives to similar pensioners in the Fleet Reserve the non-continuous service pay of their ratings; and whether he is aware that at present a differentiation in pay is being made, although both bodies do precisely similar work.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.The shipwright pensioners entered in the Dockyard Reserve in November, 1899, are entitled to the benefit of the Admiralty Order of 30th October, 1899, referred to. The only instances in which lower rates of pay are given are a few remaining cases of unskilled ratings of the carpenter class entered with lower qualifications under the old regulations in force before 1899. These men are understood to be employed on work of a less skilled character, and in every case in which such men have been reported to be efficient and qualified workmen actually employed on skilled labour in common with other pensioned shipwrights, they have been allowed the higher rate of pay.