Mr. T. WILSONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will issue an Order stating clearly the position of the mechanics in the Royal Naval Air Service who provide their own tools; whether it is proposed to purchase the tools from the men or pay for the hire of them; whether the men will have to pay for tools lost or broken; and whether the men who are still using their own tools will be paid the 3d. per day allowed as tool money?
§ Major BAIRDAn order was issued on 14th March setting out the terms on which the Service was prepared to purchase took which were the personal property of ratings of the Royal Naval Air Service. It is not proposed to hire these tools from them. When issued to men on loan they will be replaced if broken or if unavoidably lost, but if lost by neglect a proportion of the cost will be charged against the man responsible. It should not be necessary for men to use their own tools, neither is it desired.