HC Deb 04 July 1962 vol 662 cc61-2W
Commander Pursey

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the date and basis of the original pension for able-seamen of a half-penny per day per year of service, with a further halfpenny for each year's service as petty officer and a farthing for each year as leading seaman.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

The operative date of the pension for seamen of 11d. a day for 22 years' service or a halfpenny per day per year of service was 1st October, 1917. Additions to the basic rate were available not only for service as petty officer and leading seaman but also for good conduct and for other reasons. This code prevailed only until the 1919 code was introduced.

Commander Pursey

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the approximate number of able-seamen who are now drawing a pension of three-half-pennies per day pension per year of service, with one penny for each of three good conduct badges, two pennies for the good conduct medal and one penny for 22 years' good conduct, with a total pension of only £1 2s. 9d. per week after 25 years' service.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

I regret this information is not available without making an examination of each of the 62,000 pension cases.

Commander Pursey

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of chief petty officers and petty officers, Royal Navy, colour sergeants and sergeants, Royal Marines, respectively, and the total who are now drawing a basic pension for 22 years' service based on three half-pence per day for each year's service, with 6d. for three good conduct badges, the good conduct medal and complete good conduct service, and a half-penny for each year's service as petty officer and a farthing for each year as leading seaman.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

The total number of senior ratings at present in the Royal Navy is as follows:

Chief Petty Officers 10,383
Petty Officers 10,338
Colour Sergeants, Royal Marines 270
Sergeants, Royal Marines 720

I regret that the number of senior rating pensioners drawing the basic 1919 pension is not available, but I can say that few if any pensioners would now be drawing pensions unsupplemented by additions of war service, age, and pens ion increases.

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