Written Answers
Transatlantic Telephone Service
asked the Postmaster-General whether any further extensions of the Transatlantic telephone service in Canada or America are contemplated; and whether any negotiations are at present taking place with the American telephone authorities with a view to reducing the fees for this service?
Further extensions of the Transatlantic telephone service in Canada are contemplated. The service is already available to all parts of the United States. The charges in this service were substantially reduced as recently as the 4th March, and no further reduction is contemplated at present.
Royal Navy (Discharge By Purchase)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many officers and men purchased their discharge from the Royal Navy during the current financial year; and what is the price paid by officers and men, respectively?
The system of discharge by purchase does not apply to officers. The numbers of men discharged by purchase during the financial year ended 31st March last were:—
| Royal Naval ratings | … | 122 |
| Royal Marine ranks | … | 53 |
| 175 |
| £ | ||
| (a) | Ratings within three months of entry | 20 |
| (b) | Artificer Apprentices, Ordnance Artificer Apprentices, Electrical Artificer Apprentices, Shipwright Apprentices, and men of these classes trained from boy with less than four years' service from date of advancement to man's rating | 75 |
| Men of the above classes trained from boy with more than four, but less than six years' service from the date of advancement to mans rating | 50 | |
| (c) | Others:— | |
| Boys and Royal Marines under 18 years of age, including boys specially advanced to man's rating under 18 years of age | 40 | |
| Men: | ||
| (i) With less than four years' service from age of 18 | 48 | |
| (ii) After four years' service from age of 18 | 36 | |
| (iii) After six years' service from age of 18 | 24 | |
| (iv) After 16 years' service from age of 18 Free. |
Unemployment Grants, Lancashire
asked the Minister of Labour the number of grants made by the Unemployed Grants Committee to Lancashire areas during the year ended 31st March, 1928, with the amounts of such grants?
During the year ended 31st March, 1928, grants were approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee in respect of nine new schemes in Lancashire, the estimated cost of which amounted to £143,713. In addition, further expenditure amounting to £21,384 was approved in respect of nine old schemes.