§ 15. Commander Viscount CURZONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps the Admiralty are taking, or have taken, to see that the officers and men of the Royal Navy are in a position to meet the rise in the cost of living since the present scale of pay was fixed?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Colonel Sir J. Craig)I regret that I cannot at present supplement the assurance given to the hon. Member for Devonport on the 21st ultimo, to the effect that the question of the adequacy of the emoluments of officers and men of the Royal Navy will not be lost sight of.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Baronet aware that married men in the lower ranks of the Navy are very hard hit indeed at present, and will the Admiralty consider some relief for them before there is any dissatisfaction?
§ Sir J. CRAIGYes. As I have just said, the whole matter is under careful review.
§ Viscount CURZONWill the hon. Baronet bear in mind that the latest published index figures of the cost of living show another increase, and thereby more hardship for married men?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe Noble Lord is doubtless aware, as against that, that the new arrangement in the service with regard to the married allowance is already on a sliding scale which goes up and down according to the index figure.