§ 16. Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether officers and men who served in the Armoured Car Division, which was a part of the Royal Navy Air Service and remained in that service after the division was disbanded, have been informed that seniority in the Air Service will only count from the date of the disbandment of the Armoured Car Division; and, if so, whether he can see his way to reconsider a decision which inflicts hardships on officers and men who have gone through arduous and dangerous service in Gallipoli and in France?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe suggestion in the question is not correct as regards officers, who do count their Armoured Car time. The men, however, were receiving such high rates of pay as drivers in the Armoured Car Division that there was no justification for giving them the same rate of pay in the Air Service proper. They were, therefore, given their choice of taking their discharge, going to the Army, or accepting such rates of pay in the Air Service as their qualifications entitled them to. It is, therefore, considered justifiable that these men should be considered as having made a fresh start and their seniority has been reckoned accordingly. This will not interfere with their prospects as they are only entered for the period of the War, and, in the circumstances of the case, seniority cannot play such a part in determining promotions as it must do in the permanent service.