asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any decision has yet been made regarding leave with pay for chargemen, recorders, yard craftsmen, etc., in His Majesty's dockyards and other naval establishments, as apart from the general holidays?

Mr. ALEXANDER:

Orders have been issued providing for an increase of three days in the allowance of annual leave with pay for the following grades of employés in Admiralty Civil Establishments at home:

Chargemen of trades of titular grades and of skilled labourers;

Recorders of work;

Leading men in works department; and

Storehousemen and laboratory men.

No increase of leave with pay has been given to yard craftsmen.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider establishing a Royal Dockyard Benevolent Trust to perform for dockyardmen and their surviving dependants the same services as are performed for naval men and their surviving dependants by the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust?

Mr. ALEXANDER:

The establishment of a Dockyard Benevolent Trust on the lines of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust is not regarded as practicable.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman do anything through such a trust for those who suffer distress in this service?

Mr. ALEXANDER:

The hon. Gentleman must have regard to the general conditions operating in the Admiralty service as compared with the conditions operating outside that service. He will probably know that there is no comparison in starting such a fund as he proposes as that of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust which commenced with the aid of a large sum of money already in existence at the time.