§ 19. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether in view of the disadvantages suffered by married officers in the Navy, he will grant passages to the wives and families of naval officers serving abroad at the same cheap rates as those granted to the families of Army officers?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe Regulations already provide for the grant of assistance from public funds towards the cost of the passages of wives and children of officers appointed for a term of years for service on shore abroad, but the conditions of Naval Service preclude the Admiralty from extending this concession to the cases of officers serving afloat.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIs my hon. Friend aware that there is great dissatisfaction in the Navy, owing to the fact that married naval officers are on a less favourable footing than married Army officers, and will he not consider some concession of this sort, in order to remove this dissatisfaction and for the good of the Service?
Mr. DAVIDSONI am aware of the situation described by my hon. and gallant Friend, but, in view of the decision of the Government, I am afraid that nothing can be done at present.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the First Lord stated in the recent Debate that he was going to look into the matter of the withholding of marriage allowances?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not still the policy of the Admiralty to discourage the marriage of naval officers?