§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he was aware that the rates of pay of noncommissioned officers and men serving in regiments of the line in the Army were, for a recruit 1s. 3d. per diem, a private 1s. 6d. to 1s. 9d., a lance-corporal 2s., a corporal 2s. 8d., a sergeant 3s. 4d., and a colour-sergeant 4s. 10d., while for petty officers and men serving in the Royal Navy they were, for an ordinary seaman 1s. 3d. per diem, an able seaman 1s. 8d., a leading seaman 1s. 10d. to 2s., a petty officer, second-class, 2s., a petty officer, first-class, and petty officer 2s. 8d. to 3s., and for a chief petty officer 3s. 4d. to 4s.; and, seeing that non-commissioned officers and men of the Army received a free annual issue of clothing, taking an ordinary regiment of the line, to the value of £6 16s. 4d., whether he would consider the advisability of granting to petty officers and men serving in the Navy an annual allowance for maintenance of their kits in addition to the free kit given them on joining?
§ Mr. McKENNAI cannot admit that the Noble Lord has stated in his question the whole of the conditions relating to the pay and allowances of petty officers and men serving in the Royal Navy. As I informed the Noble Lord on Wednesday last, his letter of 12th January last, in which these points are raised, is receiving very careful consideration, and a detailed reply will be sent to him very shortly.