Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the increased rates of pay of certain grades of junior officers in the Navy will apply to officers of the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and to other officers at present in the Admiralty service not entered on the regular staff of the Navy; and whether he will consider 1321W the desirability of improving the financial position of midshipmen serving in the Navy?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe increased rates of pay of certain grades of junior officers recently introduced apply to officers of the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, whether permanent or entered temporarily for the War. I am afraid that I can give no undertaking as regards the second part of the question, but I may remind the hon. Member that, as I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Cambridge on the 15th instant, where real necessity exists the Board of Admiralty is prepared to give favourable consideration to applications for whole or partial relief in respect of the private allowance payable on behalf of midshipmen.