§ 83. Mr. TICKLERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will recommend the payment of the same separation allowances and pensions to the wives and dependants of the men serving on minesweepers as are payable to men in the Royal Navy?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANavy separation allowance is payable only in respect of Naval ratings, Marines and Reservists borne on the books of His Majesty's ships and paid at Naval rates of pay. In the case of any men employed on minesweepers who fulfil these conditions the allowance would be paid, but the majority of the men so employed are in receipt of mercantile rates of pay which are usually found to exceed the pay of separation allowance of corresponding Naval ratings. Pensions and allowances to widows and dependants of men serving on minesweepers are paid under Naval Regulations, where the men during their lives were Naval ratings or Reservists, borne 727 on ships' books and in receipt of Naval rates of pay; and under the scheme framed under the Injuries in War (Compensation) Act, 1914, where the men were not Naval ratings or Reservists and received Civil rates of pay.