asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that in three of the destroyers serving on the China station the medical officers have been obliged to see their patients and keep their medical stores in part of the latrine accommodation of the ships; that the same medical officers unable, owing to lack of accommodation, to obtain cabins, have been refused hard-lying or other allowance in compensation or their discomfort; and if he will inquire into the matter?

No, Sir. There is no information at the Admiralty which would support the allegation in the first part of the question. From such reports as are available, it is clear that the best arrangements possible have been made to provide emergency accommodation for the additional medical officers whom it was found necessary to appoint to the destroyer flotillas in China. The only application received for the payment of hard-lying money was in 1927. This was refused, as the conditions which were represented to exist were not such as to justify the grant of extra pay.

Was not hard-lying money instituted for this purpose?

Hard-lying money is not ordinarily payable to officers in destroyers, and the abnormal conditions were not regarded as sufficient to justify a grant of extra pay.

Is it not a fact that this extra work has been going on for some considerable time?

I could not answer that question.