§ 14. Mr. ROBERT YOUNGasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can say that the risk of life in submarines is the same for all classes; if so, whether he will explain the differentiation in the new rates of submarine pay which gives to lieutenants 6s., warrant officers 3s., and ratings above able seaman 3s. 9d. per daily rate; and why warrant officers under these ratings receive less than that given to petty officers of the lowest grade?
§ Mr. AMERYIn fixing the new rates of submarine pay, no fresh scale has been drawn up, but the rates previously existing have in certain cases been increased all round by 50 per cent. The differentiation in the rates according to the rank, held is, therefore, no new factor, and has, indeed, been in force since submarine allowances were introduced in 1901. The present basic rates for officers were fixed according to the recommendations of the Halsey Committee in 1919, as one part of the whole scheme of pay and allowances, and that Committee, whose views were accepted by the Government, recognised that, in certain cases, junior officers, including warrant officers, might receive less pay than ratings, but saw no real objection to this.