§ 3. Major Bruceasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when it is intended to revert to the prewar practice of permitting chief petty-officers and petty-officers to wear civilian clothes on leave to and from naval establishments; and whether he will extend this facility to ratings below petty officer rank.
Mr. DugdaleThere is at present a great shortage of lockers in which to store uniforms, let alone civilian clothes. As soon as the necessary facilities are available, however, chief petty-officers and petty-officers will again be able to wear civilian clothes to and from naval establishments. With regard to the second part of the Question, I am hoping that the coupon situation will very soon allow an amendment of the regulations to permit the wearing of plain clothes on short leave—though not yet to and from naval establishments, for the reasons I have given—by all ratings except those under training. The latter class will then enjoy the privilege when on leave over 24 hours. But no guarantee can, of course, be given that extra coupons will be available.