§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked how many commanders and lieutenants have applied to resign their commissions during the last year; how many have had their resignations accepted; how many have been placed upon half-pay; and how many have been appointed to other ships before the time of the two years' limit of their own commissions had been concluded?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first part of the Noble Lord's question is, for the twelve months ending 31st December, 1910:—Commanders, none; lieutenants, nine; and to the second part: Commanders, 0; lieutenants, nine, but one was subsequently cancelled at the officer's request. The number of discharges to half-pay in 1910 were:—Commanders, 127; lieutenants, 304. It should, however, be understood that the discharges to half-pay include all discharges for short periods. In order to answer the fourth part of the question, it would be necessary to examine all appointments made during the twelve months in question, extract the appointments of commanders and lieutenants and examine the services of the latter. As the appointments made last year number about 12,000, the labour involved would be very great, and it would take many weeks to get the information asked for.