14. Captain WILSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will take into consideration the fact that the suspension of the Order in Council of the 19th March, 1883, causes considerable hardship to officers not promoted under this Order in Council, owing to the consequent reduction of widows' pensions, and to their relative rank with naval officers when embarked?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)The question of the hardship to officers of the Royal Marines in the matter of widows' pensions is now under the consideration of the Board. Owing to the higher relative rank recently accorded to majors and captains of the Royal Marines when embarked, it is not considered that the suspension of the Order in Council named inflicts any hardship in the matter of relative rank when the position of these officers is compared with those in the past.
15. Captain WILSONasked whether the recent Admiralty Order with reference to the suspension of the Order in Council of the 19th March, 1883, which deals with the promotion of majors and captains of the Royal Marines to brevet rank, is to be permanent; and, if not, when the Order in Council will come into operation again?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAUnder present conditions the suspension of the Order in Council is intened to be permanent, but its provisions could again become operative at the discretion of the Board of Admiralty should circumstances require it.