§ 20. Mr. PRIVETTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will explain the reason for the variation in treatment of engine-room artificers of H.M.S. "Fisgard" who recently applied for discharge; whether he is aware that, while one received his discharge unconditionally, another was given his discharge conditional on payment of a sum of -£75; will ho state the reason for this differentiation: and will he explain why, if £75 is demanded from a man applying for discharge, the same sum was not granted to those fifth-class engine-room artificers recently compulsorily discharged, instead of £20 paid to them?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLDischarge of men or boys from the Royal Navy before the expiration of their engagements is permitted only in exceptional cases, and as a general rule only on payment, of purchase money on a scale laid down in the King's Regulations. The purchase money is based on the cost of training and the rate of pay. Free discharge is allowed only in those special cases where the necessary money cannot he raised for discharge by purchase. The first case mentioned by my hon. Friend was considered to fall within this category. As regards the last part of the question, no analogy can be admitted between the case of ratings granted discharge for private reasons and those whom it has been found necessary to discharge on special terms in order to avoid an excess on Navy Votes.