§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, if a man who would ordinarily be entitled to receive a gratuity on completing twenty years' combined service in the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Reserve or twenty years' service in the Royal Naval Reserve is invalided from causes not under his control or dies before completing such term of service, he or his representatives would be entitled to receive a gratuity or any portion of it; and. in case no gratuity is paid, whether their Lordships would be prepared to consider and deal with each case upon its merits?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIn ordinary circumstances men invalided from Class B of the Royal Fleet Reserve are granted a gratuity on a reduced scale, provided they are wholly unable, or able in a small degree only, to contribute to their own support, but when invaliding takes place while on active service a pension may be awarded on the scale applicable to active service ratings. In the case of the Royal Naval Reserve, the Regulations do not provide for any award on invaliding unless invalided while on active service, in which case a gratuity, proportionate to the length of service, may be awarded if the man is ineligible for a disablement pension. Death prior to the completion of twenty years service and the attainment of the ago of forty does not confer any claim to the gratuity, or to any portion thereof. I propose to look further into the matter, and will let my hon. Friend know the result.