§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether W. T. Charlton, Royal Naval Reserve, joined H.M.S. "Ceresia," under Articles T. 124, on 17th November, 1914; whether, after the loss of that ship, he remained in the service of the Royal Navy doing transport work for 186 days; whether his follow engineers serving under the same articles in the same ship received 8s. 6d. per day; and whether he will say why Charlton has not been paid the amount due to him?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. Friend appears to have been misinformed in several particulars. Mr. W. T. Charlton actually served under an Admiralty agreement as an assistant engineer on the armed boarding steamer "Cæsarea." Mr. Charlton served in this vessel from 14th November, 1914, until 19th November, 191.5, when the vessel was transferred to cross-Channel trooping service, and not lost, as stated in the question. For the period of his Admiralty service this officer was paid as follows:—
14th November, 1914, to 4th March, 1915, at £2 14s. 8d. a week.
5th March, 1915, to 19th November, 1915, at £2 19s. 8d. a week,
these being the rates on which he signed an Admiralty agreement. I have no information as to how ho fared after that. If he remained on the "Cæsarea," his wages would, I am advised, be paid by the owners, who received from the Ministry of Shipping an inclusive rate of hire from the 20th of that month onwards.