§ 6. Mr. W. BAKERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether alterations have been made in the pay of officers and ratings of the Navy after such pay has been approved by this House in the Estimates for his Department; whether such alterations have been made under the authority of an Order in Council; and, if not, whether he has consulted the Law Officers of the Crown as to the legality of altering scales of pay approved by the House without the sanction of Parliament or under an Order in Council?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Davidson)Alterations have been made in the pay of officers and ratings of the Navy, but these changes only affect officers entered or promoted to officer's rank and men entered in the Service after the 4th October last. All the alterations made will in due course receive the sanction of an Order in Council in accordance with the usual procedure, and in these circumstances it has not been thought necessary to consult the Law Officers of the Crown.
§ Mr. BAKERIs it not perfectly clear that an Order in Council should be the authority for any such proposal; and in these circumstances, is not the reduction which has been made absolutely illegal?
Mr. DAVIDSONNo. The procedure followed in this case is the same as that which has been followed when the pay of the officers and men in the Navy has been raised.