§ Mr. LUNNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why the Admiralty messengers who were mobilised and liable to active service during the War, being under the age of 55, who were retained at their duties by the Admiralty, are being debarred from receiving any gratuity or increase in pension for 4½ years of war, whilst men similarly so mobilised who were only employed in barracks and depôts received 1½d. per diem on their pensions?
Sir J. CRAIGThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension in stating that these messengers have been debarred from receiving increases of pension. All Admiralty pensioner messengers who were under 55 at the outbreak of war, and therefore liable to be called up for service in the Fleet, have had their pensions reassessed. There is no justifiable ground for awarding a war gratuity to men who continued to carry out, as messengers in Whitehall, the duties for which they were appointed in peace time.