§ 19. Mr. STEWARTasked whether officers of the Royal Naval Reserve who join the Service as midshipmen have to serve twenty-one years before receiving the Royal Naval Reserve decoration, whereas officers joining as sub-lieutenants receive the decoration after fifteen years' service; and whether he can see his way to give the decoration to all Royal Naval Reserve officers after serving fifteen years, by allowing the years of service as midshipman to count equally with six years as a sub-lieutenant?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAOfficers of the Royal Naval Reserve are eligible for the decoration provided that, inter alia, they have fifteen years' commissioned service on the active list of the Royal Naval Reserve. Time served as midshipman does not count towards the fifteen years, and I am unable to recommend the alteration suggested.