6. Mr. DOYLEasked when it is proposed to distribute the prize money earned by the officers and men in the Royal Navy; what is the proportion to be allocated to officers and men who have served since the outbreak of the War; and whether the widows, orphans, and next-of-kin will receive the sum to which the deceased breadwinner was entitled?
§ 8. Commander Viscount CURZONasked whether the date for the commencement of the distribution of prize money to officers and men of the Royal Navy has yet been 376 fixed; and, if not, if the statement that a distribution would commence in the spring still holds good?
§ Mr. LONGThe individual records of service of those eligible to share are now almost complete, and it is our hope and expectation that the work of the Prize Courts at home and abroad will be completed in such a large volume of cases as to enable us to commence distribution early in the spring. As regards the proportion to be allocated to officers and men who have served since the outbreak of the War, the scheme of shares is set forth in the Royal Proclamation of 10th February last, from which it will be seen that a certain minimum length of service at sea, namely, thirty months, is required to qualify for a full share. This provision was made for the purpose of recognising length of service during the War. As regards widows, orphans, and next-of-kin, the position is that in the case of officers and men who have died, their shares will be payable to their representatives; and in the case of those killed on sea service, their shares will be calculated as if they had served at sea until the Armistice, however short a period they may actually have served.
§ Colonel YATECan the right hon. Gentleman say when spring commences?