§ 64. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the wives and dependants of the men in the Merchant Service did not receive separation allowances from the Government, he can see his way to put the men of the Merchant Service on the same terms as regards gratuities as the men who served in the Army and Navy?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe reasons upon which the decision of the Government to give gratuities to men who served in the Army and the Navy was based do not apply to merchant seamen, who received considerable advances of wages during the War. The fact that their wives and dependants did not receive separation allowances would not affect the question of gratuities.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister himself and successive First Lords of the Admiralty, and Viscount Jellicoe and Earl Beatty, have spoken of the heroic efforts of those men as being equal to those of the Navy, and ought they not be put on the same footing?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have already informed my hon. Friend that steps are being taken to consider the pensions, but the question of separation allowances obviously does not arise.