§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the respective pay of boys under and over 16 years under training in His Majesty's ship "Fisgard"; and whether the difference in pay is responsible for the increased charge in railway fares to boys over 16 proceeding home on leave?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMBoys in "Fisgard" enter between the ages of 15 and 16 years, and the rates of pay are:
1st year's service 9d. a day. 2nd year's service 1s. 9d. a day. 3rd year's service 1s. 9d. a day. 4th year's service 2s. 9d. a day. No change in the rate of pay takes place merely as a result of a boy reaching the age of 16. The cheap travelling facilities which these boys enjoy when they proceed on leave are merely concessions by the railway companies, and the distinction which is drawn between boys under and over 16 years of age is in accordance with a general rule applied by the companies to juvenile organisations, unconnected with the naval service, to whom travelling concessions are extended.