HC Deb 09 November 1921 vol 148 c427W
Sir A. FELL

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if his attention has been called to the very poor autumn herring fishing this year, and to the great hardships that this will entail among the fishermen; and if, under these circumstances, the distribution of the balance of the naval prize money due to men who served in the drifters and trawlers during the War could be expedited, and the money paid about Christmas instead of a month or two later as proposed?

Commander EYRES - MONSELL

As indicated in my reply of the 2nd instant to a question of the hon. Member for the Devonport Division of Plymouth (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke), it is not yet possible to fix the value of a share in the final distribution of prize money, and for that reason alone it is not practicable to begin payment to men who served in drifters and trawlers, apart from which it would be very difficult to give preference in payment to any particular section of the ex-naval forces. Every effort is being made to hasten the date when payment can begin.