§ 20. Sir B. FALLEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the maximum gratuity granted to a Royal Navy officer whose whole service has been at sea or abroad is £148 in the case of a captain and £93 in the case of a lieutenant, while the gratuity awarded to the same ranks, Royal Naval Reserve, for all service, irrespective of sea or abroad, is £488; if Royal Naval Reserve officers have during the War been in receipt of messing allowance which Royal Navy officers do not receive; and if he will see that a more equitable arrangement can be come to by raising the gratuity to the Royal Navy?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe figures are not correct, but I admit that there is a considerable disparity between the war service gratuity to the permanent naval officer on the one hand, and the temporary naval officer on the other. That, I think, is justified on the ground that the temporary naval officer left his ordinary employment in a time of national emergency, and should now be assisted in the 384 task of re-establishing himself. On the other hand, though the permanent naval officer is certainly worthy of every consideration for his war services, he will continue his life's calling with the prospect of a life pension at its close. I should add that the messing allowance to Royal Naval Reserve officers is payable on the ground that while serving in the Mercantile Marine they obtain free messing.