10. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary to the Admiralty why it is that a youth who joins the Navy for continuous service for the next twelve years is granted allowance for his dependants only one-half the scale on which allowance is granted to the dependants of Reservists or of youths who join for hostilities; and whether for the duration of the War the Admiralty will see that he is placed in a position as good as the others?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe reason for the grant of Navy separation allowance at a lower rate in the case of active-service ratings than that payable to the dependants of Reservists is to be found in the fact that, in the case of the active-service rating the allowance constituted a pure addition to the then existing emoluments, whereas in the case of the Reservist It helped to make good any loss arising out of the relinquishment of civil employment. I fear it would not be possible—or, in fact, fair—to discriminate in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend between those active-service ratings who joined before 4th August, 1914, and those who joined after that date. It must be remembered that a youth who enters the Navy at the present time, by executing a twelve years' continuous service engagement, makes the Navy his profession no less than one who joined before the War.
§ Admiral of the Fleet Sir HEDWORTH MEUXDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that the dependants of the youth who is making the Navy his profession should get less than the dependants of those who have joined recently?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes, because those who join for the War have to break up their civil life and occupation, while it makes no difference in the home circumstances of those who have previously joined.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. Friend is now dealing with the case of death. Then it is the same.