24. Vice-Admiral Taylorasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, as the notional value placed upon ship accommodation for officers has always been taken into account when considering naval officers' pay, what is that amount to-day when taken for comparative purposes in the case of a lieutenant-commander?
Mr. CooperThe value placed upon ship accommodation for an officer is the estimated expense to him of replacing that accommodation when it is not available. In the case of a single officer, this expense is estimated as £80 a year for lieutenant-commanders, namely, the amount of his lodging allowance. In the case of a married officer who is able to live with his family when on shore, the cost of replacement of the actual ship accommodation is nil, but he will generally receive provision allowance at the rate of £47 a year towards the additional domestic expenses of all kinds.
Vice-Admiral TaylorBut my right hon. Friend must be aware that the notional value of cabin accommodation is not dependent upon whether an officer is married or not. I would ask him whether 1191 he would go further into this matter, especially with regard to the Fisher and Anderson reports on officers' pay, and whether that notional value is not taken into account?
Mr. CooperThe notional value of an officer's lodging in a ship is supposed to be the same as he would have to pay for his lodging if he were on shore. If that officer were married he would receive an allowance to keep his family on shore. Therefore, when he goes on shore and joins his family, he is not entitled to the additional lodging allowance to which he would be entitled if he were a single man.
Vice-Admiral TaylorI am not asking about lodging allowance but asking the mere fact whether ship accommodation for naval officers is not taken into consideration in the assessment of their pay. I maintain that it is.