§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reasons why it has become necessary to appoint an Admiralty Navy Week liaison officer between the committee and the Press in addition to the usual Admiralty staff for dealing with the Press and the nature of his duties; whether this officer is on the active or retired list; whether full-time for the year; and what is the salary paid from Navy Week funds and the pay from Navy funds?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLIt has been the practice hitherto to employ outside publicity agents to secure a liaison between the Navy Week organisation and the Press. It has been found desirable to change this arrangement, and employ a naval officer on this duty. His duties are full time. The present holder of this appointment is on half pay, but retires on 22nd May on a pension of £405 per annum. He will receive from Navy Week funds a sum of £250 per annum.
§ Mr. DAVIESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the first Navy Week secretary was engaged at Portsmouth; and what are his duties, whether full-time or otherwise, salary from Navy Week funds, and retired pay?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLThe first Navy Week secretary at Portsmouth was engaged on 1st February, 1931. The duties of Navy Week secretary are to act as general organising secretary for Navy Week, and in particular to be responsible for the conduct of business and other arrangements which affect equally the Navy Week organisations ta each of the three home ports. His duties are full time, and the salary of the present holder consists of £350 per annum from Navy Week funds, together with retired pay as Paymaster-Captain of £540 per annum.
§ Mr. DAVIESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reasons why it has now become necessary to appoint a Navy Week secretary at Devonport and Chatham and an assistant secretary at Portsmouth; the nature of their duties, whether full time for the whole year; 215W and the salaries paid from Navy Week funds and the pay or retired pay from Navy funds?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLThe appointment of local Navy Week secretaries at Devonport and Chatham, together with an assistant secretary at Portsmouth, has been made with a view to placing the local Navy Week organisations on a more satisfactory basis, and thereby, it is hoped, obtaining greater efficiency. Hitherto this work has been carried out by active service officers stationed at home ports, in their spare time. It was found impossible to continue this arrangement, as the work in connection with Navy Week imposed too heavy a strain on the officers concerned, taken in conjunction with their normal duties. The duty of the assistant secretary at Portsmouth is to assist the general secretary, and supervise the detailed local organisation. The duties of the local secretaries at Devonport and Chatham are to act as organising secretaries of the local Navy Week committees. The duties of all three officers are full time. The salary of the local Navy Week secretary at Devonport consists of £200 a year paid from Navy Week funds, together with retired pay £97 10s. The salary of the local Navy Week secretary at Chatham will be £200 a year, paid from Navy Week funds together with retired pay. (This post has not yet been filled, so retired pay cannot be stated.) The assistant secretary at Portsmouth, a pensioner chief petty officer writer, receives £3 per week from Navy Week funds, plus £1 15s. 8d. pension.