§ 11. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to introduce non-continuous service to all branches of the lower deck or only to seamen, stokers, officers' stewards, and marines?
Mr. DAVIDSONApart from the decision to revert to the practice of entering a small proportion of seamen under a special service engagement, which is not quite the same as a non-continuous service engagement, there is no present intention of extending the non-continuous service system. Officers' cooks may be entered either for continuous or non-continuous service, but Royal Marines are entered for continuous 1189 service only and stokers are not being entered at present except for continuous service.
§ 12. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what retaining fee, if any, non-continuous service ratings will receive on being transferred to the Reserve; how long they are eligible to serve in the Reserve; and whether they will receive a gratuity or bonus on being discharged from the Reserve on completion of their time?
Mr. DAVIDSONSpecial service ratings on transfer to the Royal Fleet Reserve will receive the usual retainer of 6d. a day; they may, if they wish, and if they continue to fulfil the requirements of the Royal Fleet Reserve Regulations, remain in the Reserve to complete 20 years' qualifying service in the Fleet and Royal Fleet Reserve combined, provided they can complete the qualifying service before the age of 45. Reservists who complete the 20 years' qualifying service receive a gratuity of £100 on discharge from the Reserve.
§ 13. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First. Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the additional expenditure that will be incurred through retainers, travelling expenses during training whilst in the Reserve, and bonuses on discharge, and bearing in mind the difficulties that men unskilled in civil employment, discharged in the prime of life under the non-continuous service system, will experience in obtaining work, he will consider adhering to the present system of service as the more advantageous and the more conducive to the efficiency of the Fleet?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe answer is in the negative. The decision to revert to the practice of entering a small proportion of Special Service Seamen was made after careful consideration, and I am unable to agree with the hon. Member's view of the matter.