§ MR. R. DUNCAN (Lanarkshire, Govan)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty when a definite decision may be expected on the question of issuing fresh kits to members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who have completed three years service, and also on the question of granting signal ratings to members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who have specialised in signalling; whether he is aware that the first matter has engaged the attention of the Admiralty for over two years, and the second one for more than eleven months; and whether he proposes to take steps to secure that Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve matters shall be settled in future with greater expedition.
§ MR. MCKENNAA temporary arrangement for issuing new kits to Volunteers who enrol after completing three years was approved in December last and is still in force. Details of a scheme on the basis of the new Army system are now under the consideration of the Admiralty Volunteer Committee. 1069 The question of the formation of a signal branch of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve involves financial consideration and correspondence with another Department, and it is hoped that a decision will be arrived at before very long. These matters have been under consideration for the time stated. In both cases there have been considerable financial difficulties, and it is not considered that any avoidable delay has taken place.
§ COLONEL LOCKWOOD (Essex, Epping)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great difficulty caused to recruiting by the action of the Admiralty?
§ MR. MCKENNAI do not think we are causing any difficulty in that way. We deplore the delay quite as much as the right hon. Gentleman, and I have explained it in the best fray I can.