§ 21. Mr. PAGETasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can take steps to remove or lessen the hardship borne by the parents of midshipmen now serving in His Majesty's ships who are compelled by the Admiralty's Regulations to pay £50 a year for the privilege of allowing their sons to fight for the country; and whether he can state what proportion of the £50, paid in advance half-yearly, is returned to the parents in the event of the midshipman being killed on active service?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Hammersmith on the 4th instant, I regret that I do not see my way to recommending a general, remission of the private allowance payable on behalf of midshipmen, but where real necessity exists the Board of Admiralty is prepared to give favourable consideration to applications for whole or partial relief. With regard to the last part of the question, in the cases of midshipmen killed on active service, any sums deposited in advance in respect of a period subsequent to the date of death are returned to the guardians upon the closing of the private allowance accounts of the officers concerned.