§ 30. Mr. O'GRADYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the number of officials in his Department who, failing to obtain permission, resigned their posts in order to rejoin their regiments in which they had previously undergone several years of training; whether these men receive any civil pay; whether their service in the Army is allowed to count as in all respects as if it were Civil Service; and whether any guarantee has been given them that their civil posts are open to them at the termination of the War?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am not aware that there have been any cases at the Admiralty Office in London in which officials who had previously undergone military training have in default of official permission resigned in order to rejoin their regiments, and, therefore, the remaining parts of the question do not appear to arise. I should add that the necessity effectively to conduct the work of the Department has rendered it necessary to refuse permission to join the Forces of the Crown in a considerable number of cases. If my hon. Friend would like inquiry made on the lines of his question as to the other naval establishments, it shall be made.
§ 31. Mr. O'GRADYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the number of officials in his Department who have received permission to rejoin their regiments; whether the officials obtaining such permission receive their civil pay sub- 1988 ject to an authorised deduction from Army pay; whether their military service counts as if it were in all respects Civil Service; and if these officers are given a guarantee that they can return to their posts in the Civil Service on the termination of the War?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAOne hundred and eighty-one officials in the Admiralty Office in London have received permission to join His Majesty's Forces. One hundred and fifty-three of these are being paid the difference between Army pay and separation allowance and their civil pay; the arrangement being that non-commissioned officers and men are allowed the difference between the lowest rate of Army pay plus separation allowance, if any, and their civil pay. Commissioned officers, on the other hand, receive the actual difference between their Army pay as commissioned officers and their civil pay. Twenty-eight of the 181 officials in question receive no civil pay, as their Army pay as commissioned officers exceeds their civil pay. In all cases military service counts as if it were Civil Service, and the officials will resume their civil appointments after the War. The same conditions obtain in respect of officials joining His Majesty's Forces from establishments of the Navy other than the Admiralty. If my hon Friend would like inquiry made similar to that which I promised in the previous answer, it shall be made.