§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) seeing that the mackintosh and oilskin have now been made compulsory items of kit, and that the price of the mackintosh is 26s. 3d. and the oilskin 24s., and their average life is three years, whether the annual upkeep allowance of Classes 1 and 3 and Class 2 will be increased by 9s. and 8s., respectively, in accordance with the principles governing upkeep allowance;
(2) with reference to a recent Fleet Order making mackintoshes and oilskins a compulsory item of kit, whether those men who have had to provide mackintoshes at their own expense will receive a proportionate allowance in lieu of these articles if already in their possession?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe answer is in the negative. A mackintosh or oilskin has been included in the free kit issued to new entries since October, 1917, and the rates of kit upkeep allowance paid since that date have included a sum for their upkeep.