asked the Minister for Defence if he intends (1) to grant a marriage allowance to the wives and children of the personnel of the Marine and Coast Watching Service on the same conditions as the wives and children of the rest of the Army; (2) to grant an increase in the ration allowance of this personnel owing to the increased cost of living, and in view of the fact that they have been on the same ration allowance since September, 1939; (3) to have the men graded now after three and a half years, and to grant them proficiency pay for semaphore, international code of signals, and firing on range; (4) to refund or recoup the said personnel for out-of pocket expenses in the repair of their Army boots with half soles, nails, and tips for the past three and a half years, for which they were promised ½d. a day, which they never received.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marine and Coast-Watching Service.
The conditions of service of the members of the Marine Service employed on coast-watching duties have been under consideration for some months and, as a result, the following decisions were reached recently:—
(1) Marriage and children's allowances will be paid on the same conditions as apply to other services. Arrangements are in hands for the early issue of these allowances.
(2) Unmarried members will now be paid a daily allowance on the same conditions as apply to soldiers stationed at posts at which the provision of rations in kind is not expedient. An immediate increase of 7d. per day in those rates has been authorised. Married members will be paid ration allowances at the current rate.
(3) The standard tests by which soldiers are regarded are under revision with a view to affording members of the Coast-Watching Service an opportunity of undergoing proficiency tests for advancement to Classes II and I.
(4) A boot allowance of ½d. a day is being paid as from the 1st instant in respect of boot repairs.