§ Sir THOMAS BRAMSDONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty why the Jerram Committee recommended (paragraph 7) that the allowances in respect of the qualifications therein set out should be merged in the new Marine scale of pay, thus depriving the Marine corps of the non-substantive pay which they had before received, whilst at the same time retaining the non-substantive pay to the seamen branch, especially having regard to paragraph 5, which states that Royal Marines pay is to be based on Naval instead of Army rate?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe allowances which were merged in the new Royal Marines scale of pay were not, I am advised, on the same footing as non-substantive pay, as they did not necessitate any special training or qualification beyond the present-day standard of efficiency of a Royal Marine. The new rates of substantive pay for the corps are based on the principle that all men are now expected to be efficient for general service, and an increase of substantive pay is therefore given as soon as the men complete training and are fully qualified for service afloat and ashore. In addition, the Royal Marines have opportunities similar to those of the seaman class of qualifying for non-substantive pay, as gunlayers, range-takers, etc., within the requirements of the Fleet.