§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the highest pension obtainable by a colour-sergeant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry is 2s. 6d. per day; whether that obtainable by the relative rank in the Navy, viz.: that of chief petty officer, is 3s. 5d. per day; and, if so, whether he will undertake to have the circumstances inquired into with a view, if possible, of making the maximum pension obtainable in the Marines equivalent to that in the other branch of the Navy referred to.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The highest pension attainable by a Royal Marine colour sergeant is 2s. 6d. a day. There is no fixed limit to the pension obtainable by a chief petty officer, Royal Navy, and he may, and sometimes does, obtain as much as 3s. 5d. a day. Under the provisions of Order in Council of 28th May, 1887, the maximum amount of pension that can be granted to non-commissioned officers of the Royal Marines in their respective classes was assimilated to corresponding ranks in the Army, and still remains so. I may add that a colour-sergeant does not rank with a chief petty officer, but with a petty officer 1st class.