§ 72. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the principle on which a naval general mess is run; whether the general mess paymaster is provided with a fixed money allowance for use per day; and, if so, whether this allowance is the same in all parts of the world?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lieut.-Colonel Headlam)Under the system of general messing the Admiralty provides a full day's messing of a reasonable and sufficient standard. There is no money allowance. The current rate of victualling allowance, which is the equivalent of the standard ration and the messing allowance, forms no part of the new system of general messing. It follows, therefore, that the paymaster is not provided with a fixed money allowance for daily use; he obtains and issues what food is necessary to provide the recognised standard of messing, and the Admiralty bears the cost. The latter is a fluctuating figure depending upon prices and other conditions, and it varies in different parts of the world and as between seagoing ships and shore establishments.