§ 38. Admiral of the Fleet Sir HEDWORTH MEUXasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will say why, when the change in the King's Regulations affecting promotions to Admirals of the Fleet was promulgated on the 1st August, 1914, the 1407 Board's decisions as to qualifications were kept secret from the admirals who by their decisions were debarred from attaining the rank they would have been promoted to by the old Regulations?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)It is neither usual nor necessary to publish decisions which are intended for guidance in administering Regulations. In this particular case, so far, only one officer has been selected since the Regulations were changed in 1914, and he was eligible both under the old and the new qualifications.
§ Sir H. MEUXIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the first officer to whom this Regulation applies is an admiral who has been Commander-in-Chief twice, and who in his younger career was mentioned three times in dispatches, and who, if these Regulations had not been brought up, would have been Admiral of the Fleet next February or March?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am not aware of that.