§ Mr. Wellbelovedasked the Secretary of State for Defence at what time in every 24-hour cycle the rum ration is issued in the Royal Navy; and what arrangements exist for a commanding officer to vary the time of issue to take into account the operational efficiency of his command.
§ Dr. David OwenThe time at which the spirit ration is issued daily is decided by the commanding officer, having regard to the nature of the ship's service, the employment of the ship's company and any other relevant circumstances. Each day's spirit ration must, however, always be consumed before evening rounds on the day of issue; the saving up of spirit is forbidden.
§ Mr. Wellbelovedasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the annual cost of the Royal Navy rum ration for each year between 1960 and 1969, inclusive.
§ Dr. David OwenFor the years 1964 to 1969 these costs were:
£ 1964 … … … 183,000 1965 … … … 180,000 1966 … … … 150,000 1967 … … … 135,000 1968 … … … 167,000 1969 … … … 85,000 No rum was purchased in 1969. Figures for the years before 1964 are not readily obtainable but would not differ greatly from those shown for 1964 and 1965. There is also a substantial additional cost attributable to the manpower in the Fleet devoted to administering and controlling the ration.
§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will define in precise medical terms the expressions 191W alcoholic casualty and very heavy drinker used as criteria by his Department in connection with the decision to abolish the rum tot in the Royal Navy.
§ Dr. David OwenIn the context in which these terms were used, namely, an article entitled "Aspects of Alcohol and Service Medicine" which is in the Library for reference, their meanings may be taken to be
Alcoholic casualty"—a person who has become ill or suffered an accident and whose drinking has been a major factor in the illness or accident.Very heavy drinker"—a person who regularly drinks that amount of alcohol which may impair one or more of his faculties.
§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the British Military Hospital in Singapore was selected for a survey of alcoholic casualties in connection with the decision to abolish the rum tot in the Royal Navy; what similar studies have been made in other service hospitals; and with what results.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe survey of alcoholic casualties made in 1966 at the British Military Hospital in Singapore was carried out because of Service concern about the problem in the area. It was not designed to produce evidence in connection with consideration of the future of the rum issue in the Royal Navy, though its findings were naturally taken into account in arriving at a decision on that issue. No parallel studies have been made in other Service hospitals.