§ Sir REGINALD POLE-CAREWasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether first-class men of the Royal Naval Reserve receive a £50 bonus on completing twenty 1547 years' service; whether second-class men, after completing twenty years' service, receive nothing; and whether second-class men are liable to be called upon for active service in the same manner as first-class men?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. First-class men, on discharge from the Royal Naval Reserve after at least twenty years' continuous service, are given a deferred pension certificate entitling them to a pension of £12 per annum from the age of sixty. All such men who have been discharged since 1st April, 1906, have been given the option of surrenderng all claim to pension and receiving a gratuity of £50 in lieu. With regard to the second part of the question, second-class men were never entitled to a pension, and consequently they cannot receive the gratuity of £50. The answer to the last part is in the affirmative.
§ Sir REGINALD POLE-CAREWCan the right hon. Gentleman see his way to recommend an alteration in the rules in order that second-class men may receive some consideration?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have given my hon. and gallant Friend all the information on the subject that I have.