§ MR. H. H. MARKS (Kent, Thanet)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the 2d. per day extra pay allowed to men who, having joined the Navy for twelve years, rejoined for a further period of ten years, is withheld from those of them who are drafted into coastguard stations; what saving is made by depriving coastguards of this extra 2d. per day; and whether he will consider the claims of the coastguardsmen to receive it.
§ * MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONReengaged pay of 2d. a day is not granted to men of the coastguard, but is confined to continuous service men of the seamen class in the Navy. This additional pay was granted as an inducement to men of the seamen class to re-engage in order to secure a sufficient number of men well qualified as petty officers for service in sea-going ships. It is not considered necessary to extend this additional pay to the coastguard, whose duties are not so arduous as those performed by seamen serving afloat, especially by petty officers. The cost of granting the extra 2d. a day to the coastguard service cannot be accurately stated, but on a very rough estimate it may be assumed to be about £7,500 a year. The Admiralty do not propose to make any alterations in the existing regulations.