§ 7. Mr. ANDERSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider setting up at the Admiralty a special department, comprised in the main of men from the lower deck, whose duty would be to advise on all questions of pay, pensions, victualling, clothing, and promotion affecting the men in the Navy, and to get rid of grievances and to initiate proposals for the betterment of conditions generally?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is not considered desirable to set up a special department such as my hon. Friend suggests. But the Board of Admiralty attach great importance to keeping in close touch with the needs of both officers and men of the Royal Navy. As regards the lower deck, it is the duty of officers in command to take care to make them selves fully acquainted with the just and legitimate aspirations of the men, and, through their flag officers, to keep the Board closely informed upon the same. And I can assure my hon. Friend that, as a body, the captains of His Majesty's ships do enter into that part of their responsibility with great sympathy. I ought also to say that it is part of our policy to send small Committees to the Home ports and Fleet bases for purposes of inquiry and consultation, and thus keep in close touch. Such a Visiting Committee is, as a matter of fact, now at work, and is dealing with questions concerning warrant officers and artisans. This Visiting Committee is presided over by Rear-Admiral E. Hyde Parker, C.B., and consists of Captain L. F. Maitland-Kowan, R.N., and Staff Paymaster A. B. S. Townend (secretary), with three warrant officers as advisory members. On its return it will report to a Board Committee consisting of the Second Sea Lord (president), Rear-Admiral Sir W. Reginald Hall, K.C.M.G., C.B., and myself.
§ Mr. ANDERSONDid not the right hon. Gentleman say yesterday that some 1983 of these questions were to be referred to a special Committee at the Admiralty, which has already been sitting, and can he say what method have the men of the lower deck of getting directly into touch with such a Committee and putting their point of view before it?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIn regard to the first part of the question, the reference of the First Lord yesterday was, I apprehend, to this very Committee as to which I will show him the terms of reference and the ground they are called on to explore. As regards the second part, under the long standing Service rules, every man has a right of access to the commanding officer. Hence, if he desires, to the flag officer, and ultimately to the Board of Admiralty. As I say in the main answer, it is the duty of the officer commanding to take care to make himself fully acquainted with the just and legitimate aspirations of the men, and through their flag officers to keep the Board closely informed upon the same. And I can assure the hon. Member that the captains of His Majesty's ships enter into that part of their responsibility with great sympathy.
§ Mr. HARCOURTMay I ask whether similar cases in the Royal Naval Air Service will come under this Committee, or is it no longer under the Admiralty?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is not in. the reference to the Committee. There is nothing except that any decisions affecting warrant officers will affect R.N.A. S. warrant officers.
§ Mr. HARCOURTWall the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration, pending the transfer, that the men will be substantially represented?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI shall be very glad to hear anything my hon. Friend has to say.
§ Mr. ANDERSONI beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Navy Estimates.