§ 14. Sir BASIL PETOasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has, as yet, arrived at a decision in respect to a joint deputation of the representatives of the Imperial Merchant Service Guild, the Mercantile Marine Service Association and the Marine Engineers' Association, which attended at the Admiralty over two years ago, and urged the necessity of a pension or superannuation scheme, as in similar vessels elsewhere, for the masters and navigating and engineer officers serving in the vessels attached to the Royal Navy known as Royal Fleet auxiliaries; and, if so, what is the nature of his decision?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe matter is still under consideration, and I regret that I am unable now to give a reply; but every effort is being made to reach an early decision.
§ Sir B. PETOIs the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the principal oil-carrying fleets in private hands have superannuation schemes attached to their companies, and therefore, so far as this practice is concerned, His Majesty's Government are behind that of private enterprise?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI am aware of the fact to which the hon. Member alludes, and I agree that we must try to get a scheme going if we can as soon as possible.