§ Captain Pluggeasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what arrangements are made for men on the Mercantile Marine War Services List who are temporarily serving in His Majesty's dockyards to attend the courses which are being arranged for merchant seamen gunners; whether it is possible for such men to be granted leave with pay in order to make themselves proficient under these courses; and whether, in view of the value of the services of these men to the mercantile marine in the event of hostilities, he can arrange to review the present arrangements?
§ Mr. ShakespeareIt has been decided to extend the category of services for which leave with pay is granted to employees in Admiralty Establishments for attendance at camp or training courses to include the Mercantile Marine War Services list. Admiralty employees on this List when attending the training courses will be granted leave with pay under the same conditions as employees attending the territorial training camps. Under these conditions, of course, only regular employees are eligible for the paid leave; it has not been applied to purely casual employees.