§ Sir JOHN SPEARasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the amount of prize money now available for distribution to the Fleet; whether the amount now in hand would permit of an immediate grant to officers and men of, say, three months' substantive pay; and, if so, whether instructions will be given to credit officers and men with three months' substantive pay on current ledger as an advance on account of prize money?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is impossible to slate the amount of money which will stand to the credit of the Prize Fund. My hon. Friend may have in mind the figure which was officially announced on the 31st March of last year as the amount standing to the credit of the London Prize Court. But, on the one hand, there are other Courts with sums in their keeping; and, on the other hand, the sums in the keeping of all the Courts will have to meet a number of charges, and, further, consist of Droits of Crown and Droits of Admiralty and sums of money which are neither one nor the other. The net proceeds of Droits of Crown will be allocated to the Prize Fund for distribution to the Fleet, and to provide for that distribution notice of the introduction of a Bill has been given. As regards my hon. Friend's suggestion that there should be anad interim distribution, I may say that we have very carefully considered that on more than one occasion, and I regret to add that it has been found impracticable. But I should add that interest will be paid on such sums as may hereafter be declared to be the property of the Prize Fund from the date at which sums came into the keeping of the Government.