§ 6. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what allowance is made to boys under training in His Majesty's Ship "Fishguard," stationed at Portsmouth, in the matter of their travelling expenses to and from their homes in Devonport; and whether, seeing that the boys in training are unable out of their pay to defray the travelling expenses themselves and it therefore falls on the parents, he can arrange for free travelling facilities to be given to these boys when travelling home on leave?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lieut.-Colonel Headlam)When proceeding on leave, boys over 16 years of age are granted return tickets by the railway companies at the rate of one and a-third of the ordinary single fare and those under 16 years of age at half that rate, that is to say, at two-thirds of a single full fare. I regret that I am unable to entertain the suggestion that these reduced fares should be borne by public funds.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWhat is the reason for the discrimination between boys above 16 and those under 16?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI should imagine that it is due to the difference in the size of the pay of the two classes of boys.