§ 37. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether representations have been received from the warrant officer telegraphists of the Royal Naval Reserve with reference to their pay; whether these men suffer a loss of pay of £19 per annum on promotion from chief petty officer telegraphist to warrant telegraphist; whether the Admiralty Order lays it down that, on promotion from chief petty officer to warrant telegraphist, Royal Naval Reserve, a man should receive an increase of 15 per cent. on the rate of pay for operators in the Mercantile Marine; and whether, as there is a difference of 3s. per day between the pay of warrant officers, Royal Navy, and warrant officers, Royal Naval Reserve, he will have inquiries made with a view to securing equality of treatment for men doing precisely similar work?
§ Dr. MACNAMARARepresentations have been received from the officers referred to, and the question of their pay is at present under consideration. As to the loss in pay on promotion, I am assured that my hon. Friend's estimate considerably overstates the case. As regards the third part of the question, in the early days of the War entrants were offered the choice between civilian pay previously earned, plus 15 per cent., and the pay of a wireless telegraph operator, R.N.R., 1st class. This, however, is no longer the practice. As regards the last part of the 1780 question, I have already informed my hon. Friend the question of pay is under consideration, and the points raised in his question will be dealt with.