§ Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether men in the Mercantile Marine who volunteered as mine-sweepers are entitled to a gratuity or bonus on demobilisation?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf the question relates to men engaged under the Mercantile form of Agreement, T. 124 Y, for service in the Auxiliary Patrol, and not to men regularly enlisted in the Royal Navy or Naval Reserves, the answer is in the negative. The pay of such men was based upon Mercantile rates, and they are eligible for the Naval war gratuity, which is issuable only to Naval ratings paid at Naval rates. Should any of the men in 239W question, however, have rendered any service prior to the Armistice at ordinary Naval rates of pay, they would be eligible for a gratuity calculated on such service under the usual conditions.