HC Deb 14 November 1917 vol 99 cc357-8
6. Sir IVOR PHILIPPS

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the officers and men serving on destroyers and patrol boats in the recent convoy affair in the North Sea, who lost their clothing and kit owing to enemy action or in providing for the pressing wants of survivors rescued by them, have been provided with other clothing and kit at the public cost, or whether they have to pay one-third the value of such clothing; and, if so, under what Regulation is this stoppage of pay made?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Officers of the Royal Navy and branches of the Reserves receive compensation in respect of the loss of articles of uniform and appointments due to a casualty of the Service to enable them fully to re-equip for further service. Men in similar circumstances are re-kitted from Service stocks without any expense to themselves. Reasonable compensation is also given to officers and men who provide articles of clothing to meet the immediate necessities of survivors from action, etc. In the cases of men, the awards are limited to two-thirds of the full value of the articles when new, this proportion being considered sufficient, having regard to the fact that generally the clothing supplied would be partly worn. The claims of officers are dealt with on similar principles on their merits.

Sir I. PHILIPPS

Am I right in assuming that if a man loses, say, a boat cloak, when he is provided with a new boat cloak to replace the one lost in action the State charges him one-third of the cost of the cloak?

Dr. MACNAMARA

No, Sir, that is not so. The answer shows that if he loses his kit in action it is replaced. If he gives some of his kit to some other survivor, in that case he gets two-thirds of its original cost.

Sir I. PHILIPPS

In this particular case if a sailor helps other sailors who have been rescued from the sea and to save them from death gives them his kit he has to pay one-third of that and is, therefore, penalised by his action?

Dr. MACNAMARA

That is so.

Mr. BILLING

Does that apply also to the men of the Royal Naval Air Service?

Dr. MACNAMARA

It is general in the Service to all, but I should like to have an opportunity of confirming the point as regards the Royal Naval Air Service.

Sir I. PHILIPPS

Will my right hon. Friend see whether he cannot alter this Regulation under which our sailors suffer great pecuniary loss through their humanitarian action of saving the lives of our own sailors at sea?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I anticipated my hon. and gallant Friend's comment by putting that very aspect of it to the naval authorities, and they replied that they thought it quite equitable to pay for an old suit two-thirds of its new value. However, I will put the point again.

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