§ Mr. Palmerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will publish a comparative table showing the rates of pay of naval gunners serving aboard merchant ships and of merchant seamen, respectively.
Mr. AlexanderOwing to the naval system of marriage allowance, it is only possible to make a comparison by taking2198W examples. The following figures show the weekly emoluments of a naval rating (acting able seaman, acting seaman gunner) serving aboard a merchant ship and of a merchant seaman of the same grading. The latter is approximate as his pay is assessed at a monthly rate.
Single Man Naval Rating: £ s. d. Substantive pay … 1 1 0 Non-substantive pay … 1 9 War increase … 7 0 Kit upkeep allowance … 3 5 Grog money … 1 9 D.E.M.S. allowance … 3 6 £1 18 5 Income Tax liability, nil. Merchant Seaman: £ s. d. Pay … 3 5 4 War risk money … 2 6 8 5 12 0 Income Tax liability … 1 4 0 £4 8 0
Married Man with One Child Naval Rating: £ s. d. Substantive pay … 1 1 0 Non-substantive pay … 1 9 War increase … 7 0 Kit upkeep allowance … 3 5 Grog money … 1 9 D.E.M.S. allowance … 3 6 Wife's allowance … 18 0 Child's allowance … 9 6 Contribution to allotment … 3 6 £3 9 5 Income Tax liability, nil. Merchant Seaman: £ s. d. Pay … 3 5 4 War risk money … 2 6 8 £5 12 0 Income Tax liability … 8 2 £5 3 10 (1) The post-war credit accumulated for the naval rating is not taken into account.
(2) The merchant seaman receives overtime pay as and when earned.
(3) The merchant seaman provides his own clothes and their upkeep. He has to meet National Insurance contribution and trades union subscription.