§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state what steps are being taken by the Admiralty to give effect to the promised revision of the scales of pension and retirement in the case of engineer officers; whether acceleration in promotion to the rank of engineer lieutenant is provided for; and whether the pay of engineer commander on promotion will be 24s. a day, as laid down in the First Lord's Memorandum of December, 1902.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) I am not aware of any promise having been made that the scales of pension and retirement in the case of engineer officers would be revised. The question, however, has naturally arisen in connection with recent changes; and, after full consideration, it has been decided to make no alterations. Arrangements are already in progress for the acceleration of advancement to the rank of engineer lieutenant. The pay of engineer commanders on promotion is fixed at 24s. a day, and this will apply in all cases as soon as the new arrangements become fully operative. During the period of transition, however, and to meet the difficulty arising from the ages of existing engineer lieutenants, it has been decided to grant the rank of engineer commander before the expiration of the full period qualifying them for the higher 818 pay. Officers who thus obtain earlier promotion in rank will not receive the 24s. a day until they have completed the requisite service.