§ 28. Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the difference between the amount a man in the Royal Naval Division (Reserve) can secure for his wife and children or other dependants as compared with a man in the Army; whether the bulk of the men in the Royal Naval Division are being trained as Infantry men; and whether, in view of this fact, the Admiralty will so adjust their method of allotment, etc., as to secure equal results to the dependants of the men in the Royal Naval Division as are secured by soldiers who have joined other branches of the New Army?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMen serving in the Royal Naval Division are entitled to Navy separation allowance only, and this is on a lower scale than that in force for the Army. In the cases under reference, generally speaking, the advantage in pay and allowance more than compensates for difference in separation allowances. The only exception, I think, is the case of the married ordinary seaman of the Royal Naval Division not drawing field allowance.
§ Mr. HOGGECan my right hon. Friend say whether or not these men are being trained for Infantry purposes and not directly for naval purposes?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWith great respect, I do not think that that is the case. The question has to do with the allowances. As far as the training is concerned, if my memory serves me right, we have already supplied the Fleet with 1,000 men from the Royal Naval Division.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs it not the fact that, although the Royal Naval Reserve was originally recruited for the purpose of supplying vacancies in the Navy, a great number are really being used as Infantrymen? In that case they are not receiving the same allowances as the men in other branches of the Army, and they naturally have a sense of injustice.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have already said that, if my memory serve me aright, we have already supplied 1,000 men to the Fleet from the Royal Naval Division. The case which my hon. Friend has in mind is that of a married ordinary seaman of the Royal Naval Division not getting the field allowance. I have said that that is the only exception.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is a very difficult case. I will look into it, but I must not be understood to say that we can remedy it.
§ 49. Mr. HOGGEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why a mother dependent on more than one soldier if not entitled to a separation allowance from each?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Harold Baker)A mother dependent on more than one soldier is eligible for a grant of separation allowance from public funds in respect of each, according to the contribution formerly made by each; but the total of such grants is limited to that for a wife. She may in addition receive an allotment from each son.
§ Mr. HOGGECan my hon. Friend explain why the pension officer gives the mother a dependant's allowance as a separation allowance for her son? If it is only confined to the amount of the wife's allowance, is it not the case that a woman with more than one son is really made to suffer because she allows her sons to enlist?
§ Mr. BAKERShe may accumulate in respect of all the sums, but not so far as to exceed the total amount of allowance.
§ 46. Mr. LEACHasked if the allowance granted to the wife of a soldier is stopped if her husband is sent to prison for some offence against the law?
§ Mr. BAKERI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave last Thursday on this subject to the hon. Member for the Prestwich Division of Lancashire, a copy of which I will send him.