§ 28. Mr. Burdenasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will arrange for the discharge from the Royal Navy of Able Seaman Murray, who is presently employed in the officers' mess of H.M.S. "Pembroke", and whose wife is now on hunger strike.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingI am looking into this case at the moment and I will let the hon. Member know what is decided.
§ Mr. BurdenWould not my hon. Friend agree that the squalid exhibitionism of Mrs. Murray, who is now in hospital, merely highlights the dignity and patience with which the majority of the wives of serving -men accept their responsibilities, often during the prolonged absence of their husbands abroad? In considering this matter, will my hon. Friend take into account the fact that this man is almost certain to be a liability to the Royal Navy, however long he remains in it? The sooner he is sent packing, the better it will be for all concerned.
§ Mr. Orr-EwingI will balance the two factors which my hon. Friend has mentioned.
§ Mr. RankinIf all the wives of all the seamen in the Royal Navy go on hunger strike, will all the seamen be discharged?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingI am glad that the hon. Gentleman has also drawn attention to this difficulty. It is one of the factors that we have to take into careful consideration.