§ 6. Squadron-Leader Flemingasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how far his regulations entitle a Royal Air Force airman, who served in one of His Majesty's ships as a member of a combined operations crew from 1942 to 1944, to share in naval prize money.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsA member of the Royal Air Force who served in one of His Majesty's ships, whether as a member of a combined operations crew or otherwise, did not render service at sea within the meaning of Regulation 2 of the Royal Proclamation of 4th March, 1949, on prize money. The regulations were so drafted because His Majesty's Government considered that it would be inequitable for persons to be eligible for the benefits of both the Royal Naval and the Royal Air Force Prize Funds by reason of the same service. There was also the consideration that to extend the naval benefits only to members of the Royal Air Force who served in His Majesty's ships would necessarily have excluded other members of that force who might have rendered service of equal value towards the capture of prize. This principle of avoiding dual qualification has also been followed as between the different navies of the Commonwealth. As the204W hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware, the Royal Air Force Fund, unlike the Royal Naval Prize Fund, is not being individually distributed but is being disposed of for the benefit of past and present members and their dependants.