HC Deb 15 January 1913 vol 46 cc2051-2
16. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, under the new rates of pay in the Royal Navy, special service men who join on the five years' system get no advantage unless they rejoin for three years, and that in all probability if a special service man rejoin for three years he will be receiving the pay of leading seamen; and will he say of what advantage to him then is the rise in pay given to able seamen?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. No able seaman gets the new rate till he has served six years. As regards the second part, a special service seaman re-engaging or re-entering for three years is paid at continuous service rates. He would probably re-engage as A.B., the continuous service rate for which is 1s. 8d. a day, or after six years man's service 1s. 11d., the special service rate being 1s. 5d. As regards the third part, if any A.B., special service or continuous service, is promoted to leading seaman before six years, he receives the higher pay of that rate, but of course reaps no advantage from the rate to A.B.'s over six years.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Is it not a fact that the First Lord of the Admiralty stated in this House last July that his intention in raising the pay of the seamen of the Navy was to give some advantage to the A.B.?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Certainly, and after six years he gets it.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Is it not a fact that special service men who join for five years cannot possibly get any rise in pay?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Nor can ordinary service men.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether this rise in pay for the seamen of the Navy is likely to induce men to recruit if they are not able to get it during the five years?

Dr. MACNAMARA

It is not true to say they are not able to get it. They get it after six years.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

But they have to rejoin.

Dr. MACNAMARA

That is equally true whether they are ordinary service men or special service men. If I may respectfully say so, the hon. Gentleman does not seem to understand the matter.

17. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKE

asked, taking the present number of A.B.'s borne on the books of the Navy, what proportion of the total are eligible to receive the new rate of pay on the ground that they have given six years man's service?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Approximately a half.