Mr. POINTERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the coastguards have received no increase of pay for the last 50 or 60 years; if so, whether the matter has been considered, and is there any prospect of an increase being granted; whether arrangements can be made to pay these men weekly instead of monthly; whether the cost of their clothing has recently been increased by from 10 to 20 per cent. without a corresponding increase of pay; and whether he will give consideration to the case of these men with a view to placing them on an equality with men afloat?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon Friend to the previous replies which have been given on this subject. I may, perhaps, remind him that the work of the coastguard is not so arduous as that of the men serving afloat, and furthermore, that they are provided with quarters for themselves and their families, usually with small gardens as well. I have given consideration to the proposal to pay the coastguard weekly, but in the absence of any generally expressed desire for weekly payment, I do not think that the labour and expense involved would be justified. With regard to the 1713W last part of the question, I have nothing to add to the remarks which I made in the course of the debate on the 25th June, except to say that the average increase of cost of clothing is not so high as the estimate given by my hon. Friend, and that any variation in the scale of prices equally affects the Service afloat.