§ 108. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that several naval pensioners serving since the outbreak of war on foreign service, after returning to barracks, were given fourteen days' leave, then re-examined, and told to join up again for service at sea; that many junior men have not been out of barracks for years; that the policy of the Admiralty in sending pensioners who have already served their country in foreign waters a second time to sea and keeping younger men at Home is causing dissatisfaction; 1587 and with he consider the advisability of making a change in the present inequality of treatment?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASo far as is practicable, all men fit for sea service take their turn for sea. There are, of course, many men, pensioners for instance, unfit for sea, who are always on shore. Further, the exigencies of the Service require that men holding certain ratings are more required at sea than others, and consequently are less on shore. The policy is, generally speaking, to get the older pensioners, who went to sea on the outbreak of war, home. If my hon. Friend would give particulars of any especial "hard cases" known to him, they could be inquired into.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEDoes the right hon. Gentleman want the House to believe that there are no men of military age who might not be sent to sea?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACertainly not. I said there were many men.
§ Sir C KINLOCH-COOKEThen why do you not send them?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI intimated that if my hon. Friend had any hard cases they would be inquired into.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEI have a very hard case.