§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the revised arrangements of travelling concessions for naval leave, issued in Admiralty Monthly Order No. 1,856, of 1920, made no provision for naval ratings employed on recruiting duties away from the home ports; and whether steps will be taken to adjust this apparent oversight by placing them on the same footing as coastguardsmen and petty officer instructors, etc., attached to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, as shown in paragraph 6, Clause 3, of the Admiralty Monthly Order quoted?
§ Mr. AMERYI am aware that the present cheap travelling concessions for naval ratings and marines as laid down in Admiralty Monthly Order 1,856, of 1920, do not provide for the issue of 851W cheap tickets to men employed at inland stations; but I would point out that these arrangements are merely a reversion to pre-War procedure, as the result of the cessation of the special facilities which were granted during the War. Consideration will be given to the possibility of extending the concession to men employed definitely on duty at inland stations, but I am unable to promise that such an extension of the pre-War facilities will be possible, in view of the present financial situation. In regard to the last part of the question, I would point out that the concessions granted to coastguardsmen and petty officer instructors, etc., attached to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, are the same as those in force before the War. These men are only able to obtain cheap tickets for periods of leave of seven days and over, whereas naval ratings and marines proceeding on leave in uniform from port stations can, under present arrangements, obtain cheap tickets whenever proceeding on leave with a liberty ticket, that is, normally whenever they are on leave of over forty-eight hours.