§ 8. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that chief artificer engineers, Royal Navy, attain the rank of engineer lieu tenant as their turn arrives, he can see his way to allow chief warrant engineers. Royal Naval Reserve, further promotion to the rank of engineer lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, after a specified period, say one year, of service?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)Promotion of warrant engineers, Royal Naval Reserve, to the temporary rank of engineer sub-lieutenant and engineer lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, has already been established last November, but if my hon. Friend refers to promotion to the permanent rank of engineer lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, I would point out that it usually takes ten years for a chief artificer engineer, Royal Navy, to become an engineer lieutenant, Royal Navy, and therefore it is considered that the question of the promotion of the Royal Naval Reserve officers to permanent commissioned rank can with advantage be deferred at present, in view of the fact that the rank of chief warrant engineer, Royal Naval Reserve, has only recently been established.
§ 9. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the advisability of raising the retaining fee of £15 per annum paid to warrant engineers, Royal Naval Reserve, to £20 on promotion to chief warrant rank: and whether, seeing that warrant engineers, Royal Naval Reserve, retire at the age of fifty and all payments cease at the age of sixty, he will raise the pension of £15 per annum granted to these officers at the age of sixty to a sum more commensurate with services rendered?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Admiralty consider the higher rate of pay granted to commissioned warrant engineers, Royal Naval Reserve, provides them with remuneration commensurate with the service rendered, and see no reason-therefore, for raising the retainer to a sum in excess of that granted to warrant engineers, Royal Naval Reserve, or for increasing the amount of the discharge gratuity or pension for such officers as may be eligible there for. As regards the question of pension, I may point out that in 1912 a system of pensions was super- 1060 seded by a system of discharge; gratuities, and that only officers serving at the date of the change have any right to a pension. The pension, moreover, did not begin until the officer attained the age of sixty, whereas the gratuity under present regulations (amounting to £60) is payable on discharge at the age of fifty.