78. Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he can make any statement on the improvement of the payment of interned officers and men of the Mercantile Marine and their dependants?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Colonel Llewellin)The detention allowances hitherto payable to interned officers and men of the Merchant Navy and their dependants under the Mercantile Marine War Pensions and Detention Allowances Scheme are to be replaced by payments equivalent to full wages less the War Risk bonus which is payable to officers and men whilst they are at sea. To ensure that adequate provision is made for dependants, the greater part of these sums will be paid to them and they will receive, so far as possible, not less than the amount allotted to them when the officer or man was last serving at sea. The balance will be held for payment to the officer or man on his return home but he will be able to draw on this for pocket-money during his detention. In nearly every case the payments made will be considerably more and in no case will it be less than would be payable under the former Detention Allowances Scheme. Payments under these new arrangements will date back to 1st June, 1941, and the necessary adjustments will be made as soon as possible after 1st January next.