§ 54. Mr. HARRISONasked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to make a statement upon naval officers' marriage allowances?
§ 16. Colonel DAYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what decision has been reached in the matter of the payment of marriage allowances to officers in the Navy?
§ 23. Major HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now make an announcement on the subject of marriage allowances?
§ 48. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether he can now make a statement with regard to marriage allowances for officers of the Royal Navy?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)The Government have made a most careful and prolonged inquiry into the relative position in pay and allowances of all kinds of officers of the three fighting services. They have reached the conclusion that the position of naval officers, whether married or single, taken as a whole, is not inferior to that of officers in the other two services. In these circumstances they consider that no case has been made out for granting the additional allowance.
§ Major HORE-BELISHACan the right hon. Gentleman in these circumstances say why the House of Commons was asked to grant the money for this purpose?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. and gallant Member will recollect that the money was granted provisionally. There is no difficulty in this matter, because there are many cases where money is not spent even when it has been voted.
§ Sir A. HOLBROOKIs it not a fact that naval officers alone amongst the services, either of men or officers, do not draw marriage allowances?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTo answer that question fully would be entering into Debate. That is a fact; and it is also a fact that at the time when the pay was settled a few years ago all these considerations were taken into account.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAMay we take it that this question is definitely at an end now?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAnyone can raise it on the Adjournment or, if there is time, on the Appropriation Bill.