§ 5. Mr. Liptonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what dollar allowance is being made to officers and men of the Royal Navy attending the United States naval review in June at Norfolk, Virginia.
§ Mr. SoamesOfficers and men of Her Majesty's ships visiting dollar area countries may convert into dollars up to two-thirds of the pay drawn by them on the fortnightly pay day before their visit and on any pay day that falls during the visit; in addition they may draw the whole of their seagoing local overseas allowance in dollars.
§ Mr. LiptonWhat does all that boil down to? How much is an ordinary naval rating to be allowed to spend if he goes ashore during this review?
§ Mr. SoamesI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for asking this Question, which enables me to deny a report that was given currency and, I fear, credence of the other side of the Atlantic, to the effect that ratings were to be allowed only one dollar a day. In fact, what I have said in the Answer to the Question means 379 that for a visit which is to last ten days a chief petty officer will be able to draw 67 dollars; and an ordinary seaman 42 dollars, which, if I may translate that into pounds for the hon. Gentleman, means £15 for a ten-day visit.