§ 22. Mr. WALLACEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the officers and men in the employment of the Fishery Board for Scotland were, during the whole period of the War, engaged in the Forth and on the East Coast of Scotland on Admiralty work and under naval discipline; whether the vessels on which they were engaged were, by the express written order of Admiral Lowry, of 1477 Rosyth, placed in all respects on the same footing as the vessels of the Royal Navy; whether the officers have received the gratuity and the 1914–15 Star while the men have been refused them, and what if there in the Regulations which permits these advantages to the officers and denies them to the men; and whether he is aware that this treatment of the men who performed throughout the War hazardous and difficult work under trying conditions has given rise to great indignation in the Firth of Forth and the East of Scotland?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe statements in the first and second parts of my hon. Friend's question are, I am advised, correct. Officers engaged in this and similar services were paid gratuities because their rues of pay did not so nearly approximate to the rates of pay in the Merchant Service as did the pay of the men, who were not, therefore, paid gratuities. And further, the officers were not allowed the twenty-eight days dispersal leave with pay and allowances, which were accorded to the men. Neither the officers nor the men of these vessels have been awarded the 1914–15 Star, as their service is not regarded as "service at sea" as required by the conditions of the grant of this decoration. As regards the last part of the question, I may assume that part of the indignation to which my hon. Friend refers arises from the fact that the men suppose that the officers get the Star whilst they do not. The statement I have just made shows that there has been a misunderstanding on the point. As regards the refusal to grant these men the gratuity, I am afraid I can hold out no prospect that the policy will be changed.
§ Mr. WALLACEIs it not the case that this gratuity is paid to men of the Royal Naval Reserve; and, if so, why should it not be paid to these men who have been serving?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWherever Royal Naval Reserve ratings got it they were on naval rates of pay. I can give my hon. Friend the conditions governing the award of the gratuity.