L
1.
Kong
1
Page 186
209
particularly as the Navy and the Royal Air Force would be wearing uniforms of supage1quahich they now possess.
187 of 200 The gradual age
uniform to the Army has already been approved in principle but its issue has so far been confined to Warrant Officers, N.C.O's and certain special classes and a special issue to Coronation troops would be an anticipation of the programme,
5.
To make a special issue of No. 1 inform (but omitting shoes, socks and gloves) to the 16,000 troops, other than Guards, expected to take part in the parade would cost in the region of £205,000. If the issue were limited to those troops taking part in the actual procession only, leaving those lining the routes in battle dress, the cost would be reduced by about two-thirds to, say, £75,000 but this arrangement is strongly opposed by the Army Council on morale and other grounds.
6.
It will be recalled that the Cabinet at their meeting on 10th June (C.C.(52) 58th Conclusions, Minute 4) agreed that the proposed issue of blue No. 1 dress to Army formations taking part in the Coronation celebrations might be found suitable to form part of the proposed additional programme of textile orders designed to relieve unemployment.
7
Expenditure by all three Services on the provision of uniforms, over and above the possible issue of blue No. 1 dress to Army troops, might amount to something in the region of £100,000.
Service Reviews
8.
The First Lord of the Admiralty attaches considerable importance to the holding of a Naval Review at the time of the Coronation in accordance with tradition. By dint of modifying the normal Mediterranean Summer Cruise and effecting all possible economies in fuel consumption, he estimates that a Review on broadly the same scale as in 1937, including substantial representation of the Mediterranean fleet, would cost some £80-90,000.
9.
The Secretary of State for Air has in mind for the Royal Air Force a Review consisting of an inspection on the ground followed by some form of flying display. The additional expenditure involved by such a review is estimated at about £50,000.
10.
If it were decided that there should be no Naval or Royal Air Force Review the Secretary of State for War would be willing to confine the Army's activities to the Coronation parade and an ex-Servicemen's parade in Hyde Park on the same lines as in 1937. If, however, there are to be Naval and Royal Air Force Reviews theSecretary of State would feel bound to reconsider the desirability of holding an Army Review at a possible cost of some £80,000. The alternative of reviving the Aldershot tattoo has been considered but is found
to involve considerable practical difficulty.
11.
It will thus be seen that agreement to the holding of Service reviews in 1953 would be likely to involve expenditure of the order of £210,000 to £220,000, to which must be added the cost of entertainment of Royal and official guests, bringing the total cost to some £250,000.
Expenditure by the Assistance Board.
12.
In 1937 £10,000 was spent by the Assistance Board on making a special allowance of 2s. 6d., with an extra 1s. Od. for each child, to families in receipt of what was then known as "unemployment assistance". The Minister of National Insurance has advised the Committee that the minimum possible allowance today would be 5s. Od. and that, if this were paid to each person in