§ Mr. ARTHUR LYNCHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Admiral of the Fleet the Right Hon. Lord Walter Talbot Kerr, G.C.B., has been placed on the retired list; whether it is proposed to promote any of the present admirals in consequence of that retirement; and whether he will take care that in future promotions no other considerations shall prevail but those of seniority or exceptional merit displayed in the course of naval service?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative, the officer referred to having been, by authority of a special order in Council, promoted supernumerary to the established list of Admirals of the Fleet.
§ Mr. ARTHUR LYNCHWould the right hon. Gentleman care to refer to the third part of the question?
§ Mr. McKENNAWell; the hon. Gentleman suggests that I should do my duty in the third part. If he needs an assurance on that point——