9. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Ian Fraserasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for sailors awarded after 15 years service with a grant of £20 and an increase of pension at the end of service, but that a similar medal for soldiers is awarded after 18 years' service with a grant and no addition of pension at the end of service; awl if he will raise the conditions of the Army award to those of the Navy award.
§ Sir J. GriggThe Army and Navy codes differ in various ways, the advantage lying sometimes with the one and sometimes with the other. The difference to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers cannot be considered in isolation, and in present circumstances I am not prepared to make any change in the benefits attaching to the Army award.
§ Sir I. FraserIs not this one of those small matters which quite a modest cutting of red tape would put right; and would it not give satisfaction out of all proportion to the amount of work involved, to assimilate the conditions for similar medals?
§ Sir J. GriggI understand that similar claims have been made on behalf of sailors for amelioration in respects in which the Admiralty regulations appear 1785 to be less favourable than those of the Army. It is not a question of cutting red tap. To assimilate the Regulations of the three Services is a very burdensome business.