HC Deb 24 February 1944 vol 397 cc983-4
62. Mr. Loverseed

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the respective rates of pay of Merchant Navy gunners and Royal Navy gunners employed on merchant ships; and the amount of danger pay received by the former.

The Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. J. P. L. Thomas)

The bases on which rates of pay and allowances in the Merchant Navy and in the Royal Navy are framed differ so fundamentally that comparisons between them are misleading. Merchant seamen trained as gunners receive the National Maritime Board rate of pay appropriate to their rating. While actually embarked, they receive additional allowances of £10 per month (or £2 6s. 8d. weekly) war risk money, and 3d. or 6d. per day according to their gunnery qualifications. Naval gunners are paid naval rates according to the rating held. They receive 3d. or 6d. per day according to their gunnery non-sub-stantive rate, plus an additional 6d. per day while actually embarked.

Mr. Loverseed

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that an anomaly does arise where men of two Services are doing exactly the same job, on the same ship, and are receiving such totally different rates of pay? Is he aware that that state of affairs is causing a certain amount of dissatisfaction among naval ratings?

Mr. Thomas

The naval rating is paid in this case, according to the scales approved by the Royal Navy for service remuneration in general. It is impossible to compare these two rates of pay; so much has to be taken into consideration, because of marriage allowances and assessment for Income Tax.

Mr. Palmer

Would it be possible for my hon. Friend to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a comparative statement setting out these details, because there is a certain amount of grievance and misunderstanding on this subject?

Mr. Thomas

Certainly, I will consider that.

Mr. Hugh Lawson

Does not this anomaly indicate that the scales of pay for naval ratings are far too low?