§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the provision, victualling, and messing allowances in the Royal Navy are based mainly oh the prices which obtain in the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes at the time of calculation and if these allowances are now being reviewed in the Admiralty departments with a view to an early reduction?
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§ Mr. AMMONThe victualling and messing allowances are based on the issuing prices of service provisions and the prices charged by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes. Provision allowance is based on civilian retail prices. These allowances are generally revised half-yearly. The last revision took effect from the 1st April, and the next revision is due on 1st October next.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if ho is aware that on the April workings of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes (Navy side) there was a loss of approximately £1,200; what steps he proposes to take to compensate the officers and men of the Royal Navy who have been receiving provision, victualling, and messing allowances based principally on the figures of prices of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes, which do not permit of the solvent working of the institutes and if in future the allowances for messing, etc., will be calculated on the Ministry of Labour figures of cost of living?
§ Mr. AMMONFrom inquiries made of the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes, it is understood that the statement in the first part of the hon. Member's question is not correct, the accounts for April not having yet been balanced. The points in the latter part of the question do not, therefore, arise.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that, at a mass meeting held in His Majesty's ship "Vernon" on the 27th May, 1924, the petty officers decided to request permission to give up their present system of general messing on account of the unsatisfactory results obtained by them, and to take up victualling allowances whereby they could cater for themselves; and whether such permission will be granted?