§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether all ratings in His Majesty's Fleet are, except in cases of injury received in the performance of their duties, mulcted in a portion of their daily pay for each day they are under treatment in a naval hospital over thirty days and up to ninety-one days, at the end of which latter period their pay ceases altogether; whether any stoppages of pay are made in the case of officers under treatment in a naval hospital, irrespective of the duration of their illness; and, if not, would he state what reason there is why the men should not be placed on the same footing as the officers?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere is no deduction for men in the Fleet in hospital as a result of wounds or injuries received in the performance of their duties. There is no deduction if they are sick on board and not treated in hospital. There is no deduction under any circumstances if serving abroad. If in hospital at either of the home ports there is no deduction for thirty days. So far as continuous service men are concerned a scale of stoppages operates up to and including the ninety-first day from admission to hospital. After that, pay ceases altogether. For non-continuous service men's pay ceases altogether after the thirtieth day. Men treated at home by an Admiralty surgeon and agent are treated as though in hospital in the matter of deductions. As regards officers, no stoppages are made from pay whilst in hospital on full pay. Stoppages are made from officers in hospital on half or retired pay at rates varying according to rank and period of treatment. With reference to the last part of the question the treatment of officers and men in respect of pay is so entirely different in principle that no argument can be drawn from any comparison between the two.
§ Mr. ASHLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say why the men should be treated differently in hospital?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI can only repeat that the treatment of officers and men in respect of pay is so entirely different in principle that no argument can be drawn from any comparison between the two.