§ Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what ground the R.M.P. (Special Reserve) are excluded from the War Gratuities Scheme.
Mr. AlexanderAs stated by the former Prime Minister in the House of Commons on 8th March, 1945, the Government, after considering all the classes of the community analogous to Service personnel to whom war gratuities should be given, decided that this benefit should be extended, on a reduced scale, to certain members of the Civil Defence Services where remuneration throughout the war had been related to Army rates of pay. The Royal Marine Police Special Reserve is a force of civilian police whose pay is not, and never has been, related to Army rates. It is regretted that the Reserve is, therefore, not eligible for war gratuities.