asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now state what has been done to reconstruct the Royal Naval Reserves; whether recruiting has as yet been recommenced; if not, when it will be; whether the conditions of service have as yet been published; and, if not, when they will be?

There are still outstanding several financial questions in connection with the scheme. I hope that a satisfactory conclusion will soon be reached, when a full statement will be made.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the reserves are suffering seriously through not being able to know the conditions under which they are likely to serve, and that recruiting is going ahead rapidly in the Territorial Army, which draws its recruits from the same source? Can nothing be done to expedite the scheme?

All these considerations are being borne in mind, and we are doing all we possibly can to get a complete scheme put in hand.

Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAY:

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the recruiting for the Territorial Army is not going ahead rapidly?

Sir A. SHIRLEY BENIN:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if a Royal Naval Reserve sailor who completed his time in the coastguard in October, 1914, thus qualifying for a pension, but was mobilised on the outbreak of war and served on mine-sweepers and trawlers until August, 1919, being awarded the D.S.M. and long-service medal, is entitled to have his pension of £12 per annum, now given to him as from October, 1914, re-assessed so that it may be made equal to the pensions granted to active-service ratings and pensioners who served under similar conditions?

Royal Naval Reservists are not eligible for service pensions like naval ratings. In certain circumstances, however, they may be granted an allowance of £12 a year, which is ordinarily payable from the age of 60, this being a flat rate granted in consideration of liability for service in the fleet in time of emergency. In the case of a Royal Naval Reservist with at least 10 years' service in the Coast Guard the allowance may be granted from the earlier age of 50. There is no provision for the reassessment of such pensions on the scale of long-service pensions in consideration of war service.

Is this man, 56 years of age, able and willing to work, to live on 5s. a week, or will the Admiralty find work for him?

If my hon. Friend will send me the specific case, I will give my best attention to it.