85. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has considered the propriety of securing that in all cases the separation allowance issued to the wives of sailors should be raised to the level of that issued in the case of soldiers, regard being had to the higher rate of pay of sailors in fixing the amount of the compulsory allotment from pay?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the White Paper issued on the 22nd September, 1914, which describes fully the reasons why it has been deemed equitable that the scale of separation allowances for the wife and children of the seaman should differ from that adopted for the wife and children of the soldier.
Mr. SCOTTDoes that White Paper offer any consolation to the wives of sailors when their allowance is less?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt explains fully why it is fixed at a lower rate, because the pay is higher and the opportunity for promotion greater than in the case of a soldier. When my hon. Friend has read it, perhaps he will put a further question
Mr. SCOTTIs there any reason why the maintenance of the wives and children of sailors should not be safeguarded to the same extent as those of soldiers?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI certainly trust that with the allotment, plus the allowance, it adequately safeguards them.