§ MR. REGINALD LUCAS (Portsmouth)To ask the Secreatary to the Admiralty whether time-expired men in the Royal Navy who are entitled to gratuity for recent operations in China may rely upon receiving the same without delay, seeing that men now serving received their share three months ago.
(Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forster): The payment of the China gratuity to men who have left the naval service has 273 been delayed owing to the fact that the details as to the distribution of the Peking prize money, which was superintended by a committee of Indian officers, have not yet reached this country. As the share, if any, received from the latter fund has to be taken into consideration in calculating the amount due in respect of the China gratuity, it is not possible to proceed with the payment of the gratuity pending the arrival of this information, which, however, is expected to be soon available.