§ 13. Mr. R. YOUNGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty will consider the advisability of granting to men on foreign service 15 days' leave for each completed six months of foreign service so as to bring foreign service leave more into line with the amount of leave now given to men in ships in home waters?
§ Sir J. CRAIGTo increase the scale of foreign service leave as suggested would entail an addition of about 1,100 ratings to the present strength of the Royal Navy—at an estimated cost of £220,000 per annum. At present ratings receive ten days' drafting leave before proceeding on foreign service, and on return are granted seven days' leave for each completed six months of such service. As all ratings receive uniform shares of home and foreign service, no 1213 reason is seen for granting leave on the same scale for the two varieties of service.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWould it not be possible to hold over the residue of leave to these men returning from long distances abroad, and give it to them later, when they are stationed in home service ships, and give it in, addition to ordinary annual leave?
§ Sir J. CRAIGI will certainly have inquiry made into that suggestion.