§ MR. DU CROS (Hastings)To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having regard to the fact that the Navy-Estimates 1908–9 show on page 160 that the half-pay of admirals of the fleet is £1,222 15s. annually, and that a note is appended stating stating that one of these officers is in receipt of half-pay at the rate of £2,000 a year, an Order in Council was issued to sanction this increase; if so, what is the date of the said Order and what are its precise terms; and, having regard to the sums shown on pages 258 and 148 of the Navy Estimates for 1908–9 as making up the total emoluments of the First Sea Lord to £3,865 a year, what precedent exists for increasing the Navy Estimates by £800 in the half-pay of the First Sea Lord; and whether that increase is to be retro-active and permanent in the case of Admirals of the Fleet.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative, the Order in Council is dated 8th January, 1906. Its terms authorise the Admiralty, in the event of the office of First Sea Lord being held by an Admiral of the Fleet who has rendered exceptional and special service, to grant, subject to the concurrence of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, naval half-pay at the rate of £2,000 a year, instead of at the ordinary rate of the £1,222 15s., this special rate of half-pay to be continued on the officer in question ceasing to be a member of the Board of Admiralty, and after his retirement from the active list of His Majesty's Navy. The reply to the last part of the Question is in the negative, the authority given by the Order in Council being permissive.