§ 3. Commander Donaldsonasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware of the additional hardship experienced by sea-going personnel serving on foreign stations compared with land based married personnel on the same stations, and if some provision of married quarters ashore for sea-going ratings can be made.
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasMarried quarters cannot be provided at present for naval personnel abroad serving afloat. There is a shortage of married quarters on all stations abroad, which we are reducing as quickly as financial considerations permit; but, until more quarters are available, their allocation is restricted to those serving ashore who can make better use of them because they can spend more time with their families than those serving afloat. Those serving afloat whose families join them on their overseas station under officially approved arrangements receive a rate of local overseas allowance which takes account of the level of rents paid for private accommodation on the station.
§ 4. Commander Donaldsonasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that prolonged periods of service on foreign stations discourage long-term engagements by naval ratings; and if he will consider introducing a system comparable with the United States task Forces, whereby service on foreign stations could be limited to periods of 18 months to two years.
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasThere are a number of possible reasons that may contribute to a man's decision not to take up a long-term engagement. The problem is a complex one. The task force system is already under consideration in this connection.
§ Commander DonaldsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that the thought of a task force being introduced into the Royal Navy will give great satisfaction to many thousands of ratings serving with Her Majesty's Forces?