§ 1. Colonel YATEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether all naval and 1495 marine officers, and naval and marine ratings, including Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, serving afloat or at the Admiralty, or holding other appointments ashore, at home, or abroad will be equally eligible, according to rank, to receive prize money; and how do the Government propose to calculate what a man is entitled to receive if, for instance, he has been serving since the opening of the War or has joined at a subsequent period, it may be only a few days before the cessation of hostilities?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)The points raised by my hon. and gallant Friend are at present under consideration, and it would be premature to make any statement until the details are settled.
§ Colonel YATEWill the the right hon. hon. Gentleman ask the Government to give a day for the discussion of this question? Or will he appoint a Committee to collect information with regard to this very complicated question?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAOf course, we will collect all the information and make our plans.
§ Commander BELLAIRSMay we take it that the Bill will provide that the Lords of the Admiralty will have a share of this prize money?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI do not think that arises.
§ Colonel YATEBut will the right hon. Gentleman appoint a Committee to draw up a scheme?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI should like notice of that question.