HC Deb 27 July 1904 vol 138 cc1329-30
MR. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, are naval officers temporarily on half-pay subject to the Naval Discipline Act or to Military Law; and are they bound to obey the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, including the Article therein which forbids writing for any newspaper on subjects connected with the naval service, or publishing any matter or thing relating to the public service; and are naval officers retired from the service, but whose names are retained on the Navy List, either on the emergency list or otherwise, bound to obey these regulations.

* MR. PRETYMAN

Naval officers while on half-pay—not being "borne on the books of any one of His Majesty's ships in commission"—are not, for the time, subject to the Naval Discipline Act. They are at all times expected to comply with such of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions as may apply to them. With respect to the Article referred to—682—it is not the practice of the Admiralty to raise any objection to the above-named officers writing or publishing their opinions on subjects connected with the Royal Navy, unless they consider that any such communications are of a nature likely to be detrimental to the interests of the service.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Is that held to apply to all these officers?

* MR. PRETYMAN

To the extent which I have indicated in my answer.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

asked whether it partly applied and partly did not apply.

* MR. PRETYMAN

said the hon. Member could put what construction he pleased upon the answer.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

asked the hon. Gentleman to reply to the last part of his Question, whether the naval officers referred to were bound to obey these Regulations.

* MR. PRETYMAN

said he had done so. The hon. Gentleman then repeated the last sentence of his reply.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Does that include retired officers?

* MR. PRETYMAN

Yes, Sir.