§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked (1) the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give an interpretation of paragraph I? of A.F.O. 2859, which promulgated the rate of pay for new entrants, in which paragraph it is stated that men who are serving in the Royal Navy or Royal Marines on 4th October, 1925, will continue to be paid under the existing scales until discharged, seeing that this paragraph is made subject to paragraph 2. which states that it must be quite clearly understood that men are not entitled to claim a light to any rate of pay or other emolument under the existing scales in the event of reduced scales being introduced;
(2), the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Admiralty has repeatedly stated that there is no intention of interfering with any existing service contracts, and that an Admiralty Fleet Order has since been issued, in which it is stated that it must be clearly understood that men are not entitled to claim a right to any rate of pay or other emolument under existing scales in the event of other seales being introduced; and why such a power has been taken by the Government in contradiction of all promises made?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe meaning is that, notwithstanding the general principle referred to in the Fleet Order promulgating "Reduced Rates of Pay for new entrants," this reduction will not be applied to men serving on the date of the introduction of the new seales.