HC Deb 29 July 1903 vol 126 cc678-9
MR. JOHN HOWARD (Kent, Faversham)

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any decision has been arrived at as to the readjustment † See page 54. ‡ See page 310. of the age at which accountant officers of the Navy reach their relative rank; and whether the Admiralty proposes to abolish the rank of staff-paymaster and to promote all paymasters of eight years service to the rank of fleet-paymaster.

(Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forster). I am afraid that I am not yet in a position to announce the decision of the Board on this subject, which is still under consideration. As I have stated on other occasions, I think it would be inconvenient, pending the decision of the Board on the question as a whole, to deal separately with points such as that raised in the latter part of the hon. Member's inquiry.