§ 60. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the disappointment occasioned on account of so many pensioners in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, who have been afloat in foreign waters since the beginning of the War, not obtaining leave; and can he assure the House that some effort will be made to replace them by selecting younger men and, in many cases, single men from the ratings who for the last year or more have been enjoying home comforts in naval barracks?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI must refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to his question of the 23rd November on this subject.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked a question which was inaudible in the Reporters' Gallery.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs I told my hon. Friend on 23rd November, the policy generally is to get home the older pensioners who on the outbreak of the War went to sea. Further, I said that if my hon. Friend would give particulars of any specially "hard cases" they would be inquired into.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have on two occasions sent him such cases, and this morning I sent him similar cases of men in foreign waiters who had never been given any leave since the War started?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have not yet seen the cases sent this morning.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWhat about the other two?