§ 14. Mr. BECKETTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, under the re-constitution of the Coastguard as a pensioner force, some injustice has been done to those petty officers who abstained from taking the retrospective pension, in the 2008 expectation held out to them that accelerated promotion would result from their remaining on the active list; and, seeing that those petty officers and men have made their decision prompted by a legitimate hope of rising in the Service, whether steps could be taken to see that they do not suffer by such decision?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am advised that in promulgating the details of the reconstituted Coastguard force, particular emphasis was laid on the fact that promotion for men electing to remain under the old conditions of service (i.e., without pension), would be on a "pro rata" basis as compared with the numbers remaining in the old force. In the reconstituted Coastguard force all men, whether serving under the old conditions or as pensioners, will have an equal chance of rising in the Service. Furthermore, all those men who abstained from taking their pensions have quite recently been given an opportunity of reconsidering their decision and taking their pension with retrospective effect.
§ Mr. BECKETTCan my right hon. Friend say when it was that a further opportunity was given to these men?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo, but it was quite recently.