Mr. T. WILSONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that a number of apprentices in the Royal Dockyards who have been released to join the Navy or the Army were in the last year of their apprenticeship; and whether it is proposed to increase the allowance of these men when they are twenty-one years of age or whether they will only receive apprentice pay during the time they are on active service?
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§ Dr. MACNAMARAAmongst the men who have been released from the dockyards for military service in accordance with the general decision of the Government there are a number of apprentices in the last year of their apprenticeship. Like other dockyard employés who were serving in the dockyard at the outbreak of war, these apprentices will be eligible to draw the civil pay of their class in addition to the pay they may receive on account of their service in the Army or Navy, less the minimum pay of a private in the Army; but they will not be entitled while serving with the military forces to have their civil pay raised to the amount payable to journeymen mechanics.