78. Sir H. COWANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that whereas members of the Royal Fleet Reserve and the Royal Naval Reserve, respectively, received £50 as a gratuity in the first instance, a further sum of £50 has since been paid to members of the Royal Fleet Reserve on the ground of the depreciated value of money, while no such additional payment has been made to members of the Royal Naval Reserve; and whether, considering that members of both Reserves are equally affected by the depreciation of the currency, the claim of the latter class to the additional gratuity of £50 will now be considered?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Amery)The conditions of service in these two forces are different, and the emoluments of each force are fixed at such rates as will afford adequate remuneration for services rendered and attract suitable candidates. The annual retainers for the Royal Naval Reserve have recently been increased, but it is not intended to increase the gratuity also.