§ 20. Viscount CURZONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the present position of the Grand Fleet Fund and the United Service Fund as far as the Royal Navy is concerned; and what has been decided as to the future of both of these funds?
§ Sir J. CRAIGIt has been decided, as the result of a ballot taken in the Fleet, that the serving Navy shall not be associated with the United Services Fund. The question as to whether the ex-service men who served in the Navy during the War, and have since been demobilised, shall be associated with that fund is not yet settled, as the various associations representing ex-naval men which the Admiralty are consulting have not all replied. The question of absorbing the Grand Fleet Fund in a wider organisation suitable for dealing with naval benevolent funds generally is at present under consideration.