§ Mr. GEORGE BARKERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the crew of H.M.S. "Hollyhock" have been paid mine-sweeping money for mines destroyed in the North Sea from 9th June, 1915, to 8th June, 1916; and why no reply has been made to three applications by letter from Charles Edward Buxton, No. 106,425, Naval Reserve, for payment of his portion of mine-sweeping 2225W money while a member of the crew of H.M.S. "Hollyhock" during the time mentioned?
§ Mr. AMERYThe applications stated to have been made by Mr. Buxton can not be traced as having been received. Awards for the destruction, etc., of mines were made locally by the senior naval officer in charge of the operations, who pooled and distributed them either upon the completion of each mine-sweeping operation or periodically at his discretion. It has been ascertained, however, that no award was made in respect of the mines accounted for during the operations upon which H.M.S. "Holly-hock" was employed between the 9th June, 1915, and the 8th June, 1916. Under the Regulations in force at the time only vessels which were manned exclusively by Naval Reserve crews (namely, trawlers, drifters, etc.) were allowed to participate in the distribution of mine awards, so that, even had an award been made in respect of the operations in question, no share would have been allocated to H.M.S. "Hollyhock," which was manned almost entirely by active service ranks and ratings, and was regarded as a Grand Fleet ship.