§ 8. Mr. FALLEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that time expired and other men of the Royal Marines who have come home from distant lands and who have rejoined as privates, and have been sent to the Dardanelles and elsewhere, and have returned from thence temporarily unfit to this country after having been given, on active service, the rank of corporals and even sergeants are, on their return to barracks at Gosport, reverted to the rank of private; and if this is merely due to difficulties of obtaining confirmation of the promotions or of set purpose?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe men referred to were only promoted temporarily whilst serving in the Royal Marine Brigade, and on return to headquarters reverted to their substantive ranks, not being required any longer to perform the duties of non- 1770 commissioned officers. The question of the retention of their rank by these men on return to headquarters is under consideration, but I cannot give any undertaking on the subject.
§ 9. Mr. FALLEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that lieutenants promoted during the War from commissioned warrant officers' retired list are, when called up and given promotion, receiving the pay of their new rank; if it is the intention of the Admiralty to give these gentlemen the pay of their rank; if he is aware that their new rank obliges them to mess in the ward room, which entails an additional expense of not less than £100 a year over and above the Admiralty messing allowance; and if some provision can be made to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAHitherto commissioned warrant officers, retired with the rank of lieutenant or granted the rank of lieutenant on the retired list after being called up for service, have received pay on the commissioned warrant officers' scale, but by an Order in Council, published in the "London Gazette" of the 15th instant, these officers will be paid on the scale applicable to active service lieutenants promoted from commissioned warrant rank. This will take effect from the 1st August, 1914. As regards the last part of the question, these officers when in a ward room mess receive a mess allowance of 1s. 6d. a day. It may also be mentioned that all retired officers called out for service receive a bonus of 25 per cent, of the full pay earned exclusive of allowances.