§ Mr. ATKEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the wages paid to an able-bodied seaman-gunner with ten years' service and two good-conduct stripes is 2s. 6d. per day plus 1s. 6d. per day war bonus, and the allowance for his wife 9s. 6d. per week, making a total weekly income of 37s. 6d.;and whether, in view of the inadequacy of this payment, he will consider the necessity of making the position of a qualified man in the Navy equal to the position of a qualified civilian tradesman who has the advantage of a trade union organisation to establish his claims?
§ Mr. LONGThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but if the man referred to has children he will receive children's allowances in addition, at the rate of 9s. 6d. for one child, 17s. for two children, 22s. 6d. for three, 25s. 6d. for four, and so on. As regards the second part of the question, it must be within the recollection of the hon. Member that the whole question of the pay of men of the Royal Navy has been under consideration, and that, as I have just said, an announcement on the whole subject will immediately be made.