Mr. J. JONESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why ratings discharged from the Royal Navy on compassionate grounds are deprived of the issue of civilian clothes or money allowance in lieu thereof; and why unemployed donation is withheld from these men?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAll naval ratings who were serving on or before the 11th November, 1918, the date of the Armistice, are entitled to a civilian suit, or an allowance of £2 12s. 6d. in lieu, on discharge for any reason. If my hon. Friend can furnish me with any cases in which this concession has been withheld from any ratings discharged on compassionate grounds, I will have immediate inquiry made. As regards the last part of the question, I am advised by the Ministry of Labour that there is nothing in the regulations governing the out-of-work donation scheme which would debar these ratings from receiving donation by reason only of their having been discharged on compassionate grounds. Here again, if my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of any cases to the contrary of which he has knowledge, I will have inquiry made.