§ 33. Sir Robert Rankinasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in order to improve gunnery in the Merchant Navy, the Admiralty will arrange at the principal seaports that seamen unemployed between voyages should have the opportunity of gunnery training with actual practice with or without naval daily rates of pay?
Mr. AlexanderArrangements already exist for Merchant Navy personnel to attend for gunnery training and firing practice at the local gunnery centres which have been set up at all the principal seaports. The scheme was begun in June, 1941, and large numbers of seamen, including seamen unemployed between voyages, have already undergone training. All men doing the course receive full mercantile rates of pay. For completing satisfactorily the standard Merchant Navy 339 two-day course, which includes firing practice, each man receives 10s. in cash from Navy Votes.