§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that, on account of the high cost of living on the North America and West Indies station, naval officers are finding it difficult to obtain suitable messmen; and, as the happiness of the ship's company to a great extent depends on the contentment experienced in the wardroom, will he assist these officers and men by increasing the victualling and messing allowances?
§ Mr. AMMONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the latter part of the question, both messing and victualling allowances are fixed on the basis of the issuing prices of service provisions and the canteen price list of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, and other considerations do not arise.