§ Lieut.-Commander Joynson-Hicksasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what grants, gratuities, post-war credits, demobilisation leave on pay and other benefits are receivable by His Majesty's regular and auxiliary coastguards upon their discharge from service; and why these members of the Armed Forces of the Crown receive less advantageous rates upon demobilisation than members of the Civil Defence services.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo grants, post-war credits or demobilisation leave with pay are given to members of the Auxiliary or Regular Coastguard on termination of services. Members of the Auxiliary Coastguard are, however, entitled to war gratuities, as my predecessor explained in an answer given to my Noble Friend the Member for South Dorset (Viscount Hinchingbrooke) on 18th April last. The1802W reason why, unlike the Civil Defence Services, they are excluded from the grant of post-war credits is that the terms of service of the Auxiliary Coastguard differ from those of the Civil Defence Services in that its members have always been free to terminate their appointments on 14 days' notice. The Regular Coastguard is a peace-time force, which it is not proposed to disband, and is not comparable with Civil Defence Services.