§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been directed to the new regulations issued to the United States of America Navy prohibiting the issue of liquor rations and the use of liquor on board American war vessels; and whether he can give the terms of the regulations issued, and the date when they came into effect?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe terms of the regulation referred to are: "The use or
2124Wintroduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order."—General Orders No. 99. This General Order was to come into force on 1st July, 1914.
§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARalso asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the effect which the new Regulations as to the issue of the grog ration
have had in reducing the consumption of grog in the Navy; and whether he can give the number of men who are marked T in the register and the number who took the grog ration before the new Regulations came into effect, and the number marked G and the number who do not apply for the grog ration at the present time?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLFrom statistics obtained from the Fleet, it would appear that the alteration of procedure referred to has not had any appreciable effect on the issue of the spirit ration on the 1st December last. The following figures will afford my hon. Friend the information he wishes:—
— 30th June, 1913. 1st Dec., 1913. Number of men entitled to draw spirit (i.e., excluding those under twenty years of age who are not allowed to take spirit) 88,184 87,951 Elected to take spirit ration 76,989 77,160 Elected to take money allowance in lieu 11,195 10,791 Percentage (spirit ration) 87.3 87.7 Percentage (allowance) 12.7 12.3