§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I bog to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, with reference to the Order in Council of 8th January, 1906, providing that an Admiral of the Fleet holding the office of First Sea Lord who has rendered exceptional and special service may have half or retired pay of took to give the hon. Member in the shape of a printed Answer are as follows £2,000 a year, whether the Board propose to confer this reward on Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Richards, who served continuously at the Admiralty from 1892 to 1899, and who was First Sea Lord, when the Spencer programme was introduced in 1894, and at the time of the Fashoda crisis.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThere can be no doubt about the exceptional services rendered by Sir Frederick Richards to the Navy and the nation; but I regret the use which the hon. Gentleman has thought fit to make of his distinguished name on this occasion. The Order in Council is not retrospective.