§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the allow- 31 ance for wife and family now granted to soldiers married on the strength is shortly to be extended to Territorials; and, if so, whether he will take steps to see that a similar privilege is extended to sailors?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)The hon. Member's question is understood to refer to the separation allowance which is granted to the wives and families of non-commissioned officers and men on the married establishment when employed on detached service. There is nothing in the Navy corresponding to the married strength of the Army, and it is not proposed to extend separation allowances to seamen. The conditions in the Army and Navy are so dissimilar, that obviously no comparative survey of the return for services rendered can be complete which merely confines itself to one item.