§ THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN rose to ask His Majesty's Government whether the Treasury have arrived at a decision as to the grant or bounty which the First Lord of the Admiralty stated when introducing the Naval Estimates was under consideration as a substitute for naval prize money.
§ The noble Earl said: My Lords, the First Lord of the Admiralty informed the House of Commons that the Government intended to abolish prize money. He stated also that a considerable number of naval officers were in favour of that course, and added that the question of issuing some grant or bounty to sailors during the course of a war was under consideration. That was on March 17, and the matter, I suppose, has been under consideration ever since. Now here we are in a war, and the question of prize money is one which is, I hope, very likely soon to arise. Therefore I trust that the Treasury have arrived at a decision with regard to this matter. At the present time the question of prize money is governed by the Order in Council of 1900. Prize money up to the present moment has therefore not been abolished, but I understand that an Order in Council dealing with the question is under consideration. I trust that that Order in Council is very soon to be issued, and I venture to hope also that His Majesty's Government have made up their minds as to the system which it is proposed to substitute for the present system of prize money.
§ LORD WIMBORNEMy Lords, the Admiralty issued a statement through the Press Bureau on August 29 to this effect—
Parliament was informed earlier in the year that His Majesty's Government had decided that prize money in respect of captures should not be granted. An Order in Council has been passed cancelling the previous Proclamation of September 17, 1900, in respect of captures from the enemy. In lien of prize money a system of bounties will be established. The exact form that the bounties will take and the manner in which they will be distributed are under consideration, but the intention is that prizes captured during the war should cease to be the perquisite of a limited number of fortunate crews, and that the proceeds of the sales of vessels and cargoes should form a fund out of which the distribution will be made on a basis to be subsequently determined and announced 560 by Proclamation. No alteration will be made in regard to the grant of prize bounties for the capture or destruction of enemy warships as provided for in the Naval Prize Act, 1864, provision for which will be made by Proclamation.I have further to say that the Treasury have agreed generally with the Admiralty to substitute the system of prize bounty for that of prize money.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNI was under the impression that the new Order in Council had not been passed. Apparently I was wrong.
§ LORD WIMBORNEYes.
§ LORD WIMBORNEIt has been passed.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNDo I understand that prize money has been abolished and yet the system which is to be substituted has not yet been determined on? It surely is an extraordinary thing that one system should be done away with and that you should postpone till a future date the decision as to the system to be substituted. I was, as I have said, under the impression that the Order in Council was under consideration, and that when it was issued it would contain a full and complete statement of what was to be substituted for prize money.
§ LORD WIMBORNEThat matter is still under consideration. The old system has been done away with and a new one set up, but the exact form which it will take will be announced in due course.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNEver since March 17 the new system has been under consideration, but it has not been settled yet!