§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ 6.10 p.m.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. Shakespeare)I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."
430 This Bill has already passed all its stages in another place, and I think it is quite non-controversial. It confers upon the Admiralty the power by Proclamation to extend the service of Royal Marines by five years. This power is already possessed in respect of seamen. Otherwise, at the end of his engagement, a man now serving in the Royal Marines would be entitled to discharge. In Sub-section (2) we are asking the House to put into abeyance the power we already possess to extend by two years the service of a man serving in the Royal Marines if he is serving abroad. Clearly if we are given power to extend the service of a man in the Royal Marines by five years we do not want the limited power, under an old statute, to extend his service by two years in the case of his serving abroad. The House gave us this power in the last war and I hope they will give us the same power again.
§ 6.11 p.m.
§ Mr. AmmonWe on this side, of course, support this Bill, which confers powers similar to those which were granted in the last war. The net effect of this is that the service of a man will be extended for five years whether he is on a home or a foreign station. It applies to men now serving, and I should like to know whether it means that men who are being enlisted to-day will also carry this obligation.
§ Mr. ShakespeareYes, but I do not think the point will arise, for they will probably be joining for 12 years.
§ Question, "That the Bill be now read a Second time," put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a Second time.
§ Resolved, "That this House will immediately resolve itself into the Committee on the Bill."—[Captain McEwen.]
§ Bill accordingly considered in Committee; reported, without Amendment; read the Third time, and passed, without Amendment.