HC Deb 06 November 1912 vol 43 cc1241-2
12. Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he proposes to bring forward definite proposals and to submit any necessary Supplemental Estimates to provide for the improvement of the conditions of service of seamen in the Royal Navy which has been promised; and whether, in the event of the suggested increases of pay being postponed to a date shortly before the next General Election, provision will be made for any increases granted to date back to the time when they were originally promised?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Sir, this is not a joking matter. I have at present nothing to add to the answers I gave on the 9th and 10th October to the Noble Lord the Member for Portsmouth and the hon. Member for the Fareham Division respectively.

Mr. FRED HALL

May I ask whether the House is to understand the right hon. Gentleman was only joking when in consequence of representations brought from this side of the House he was asked to consider an increase in the wages of the seamen; and further, may I draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the answer?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is only entitled to ask questions.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware the Government rejected a Motion from this side of the House for a Royal Commission to inquire into this question on the ground that it would take too much time, and that in his statement in March last he stated all the facts were before the Admiralty, and there was, therefore, no need for a Royal Commission, and will he state what is the reason of the delay in granting the increase?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The question was fully answered in the replies I gave. I have nothing to add.

Mr. FRED HALL

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the reply he made to my Noble Friend the Member for Portsmouth (Lord C. Beresford) was to the effect that he was unable to make any statement at the present time, and that he referred the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Lee) to the reply he had given to my Noble Friend the Member for Horsham (Earl Winterton)?

Mr. CHURCHILL

That is not at all a correct version of what I said. I said I hoped to make a statement on this subject shortly.

Mr. FRED HALL

Arising out of that answer, may I draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must put his question down.