§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether men enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Anti-Aircraft Corps are given a grant of £3 kit allowance and a similar amount on promotion to chief petty officers; whether, if they are discharged, even after eighteen months' service, in order to take commissions in the Navy or Army, they are compelled to refund two-thirds of such allowance; and, if so, whether he will take steps to stop this hardship?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe kit allowances payable to ratings of the Anti-Aircraft Corps are £6 to chief petty officers and £3 to A.B.'s. Under the Regulations of the corps men who resign voluntarily are required to refund the allowance, and each man enrolled in the corps agrees to refund the amount paid to him if called upon to do so. No man who enlists in either the Army or Navy is called upon to refund, but men of the Anti-Aircraft Corps obtaining commissions are called upon to repay two-thirds of the gratuity.