§ 26. Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in accordance with an undertaking given in October last, the Naval Welfare Committee have considered the questions of the peace retainer and gratuities to Royal Fleet Reserve, Class B ratings; and, if so, can he make a statement?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAlthough no representative of the Royal Fleet Reserve, Class B, was attached to the Jerram Committee, which sat in the early part of last year, the Committee considered numerous requests affecting them, amongst which were these two points, and made recommendations thereon. These questions having been again raised, it was decided to refer them to the Naval Welfare Committee when it sat in the fall of the year, but in the meantime the Fourth Sea Lord and myself saw a deputation on the 14th November and discussed the increase of peace retainer and gratuities, together with a number of 875 other matters. The reception of this deputation, which directly represented the men of the R.F.R., Class B, obviated the necessity to proceed with the original undertaking to refer these two points to the Naval Welfare Committee. The recommendations on the points raised by the deputation to the Fourth Sea Lord and myself have been considered by the Board of Admiralty, and the decision of the Government thereon is awaited.