§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will set out the basic rate of pension of a man who completed full service in the Royal Navy before the War, showing the increase under the 1920 and 1924 Acts, respectively, and of a man retiring to-day on a post-War pension?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe basic rate of full service element of pension before the War was 10d. a day for the seaman (22 years) and 8d. a day for the Royal Marine (21 years). To these rates were added allowances for badges, good conduct medal and character (4d. a day maximum for the seaman and 7d. a day for the Royal Marine), and rank additions according to grades and length of service in each grade. Under Orders in Council extending the benefits of the Pensions (Increase) Acts to Navy pensioners, the total pre-War pension, including the rank additions, was increased by 50, 40 or 30 per cent. (Act of 1920) according to the rate of the pension, and by 70, 65 or 50 per cent. (Act of 1924, subject to an overriding maximum equivalent to the post-War pension). Under the post-War Regulations the basic rate for seamen is 2s. 9d. a day, and for Royal Marines 2441W 2s. 7½d. a day, with badge, medal and character additions to the maximum of 6d. a day. Rank additions are substantially the same as under pre-War Regulations.