§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a naval chaplain receives less pay than his brother officers and that many naval chaplains find themselves in debt, with an overdraft at the bank and their war savings gone, and that the low rates of pay mean a life of unfair labour for the chaplains concerned and their wives, with poor prospects for their children; and whether he can see his way to recommend that they should be given some increase?
Mr. DAVIDSONAllowing for the recent reduction of 5½ per cent. which is applicable to all officers, the scale of pay of naval chaplains was settled in 1919 as 1827W representing a fair rate of remuneration, taking into account the conditions of service generally, and I regret that I am unable to recommend an increase.