§ Sir REGINALD POLE-CAREWasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he is aware that for the last fifty years men of the coastguard have received an allowance of 1s. a day for food; whether he is aware that the cost of living has increased considerably during that period; and whether he can see his way to increase this allowance?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, except that the allowance is at the rate of 1s. 4d. a day. This allowance is granted as the equivalent of Service victualling, which costs the Crown about 10d. a head, and no reason is seen for any alteration. In certain isolated cases, where the cost of living is exceptionally high, special arrangements are made to relieve the men in the matter of expense.
§ Sir R. POLE-CAREWAre not the coastguard men the only men in the Service who have not had an increase of subsistence allowance?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say whether that is so or not; I will look into it. But what I do say is that in certain isolated cases where the cost of living is exceptional we do make special arrangements in order to enable the men to meet the increased cost.
§ Sir R. POLE-CAREWWill the right hon. Gentleman kindly look into the question?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes.