16. Lieut.-Colonel MALONEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Welfare Committee when constituted will be set up in the Admiralty or outside; and whether it will be responsible to any particular member of the Board or whether it is intended to create a new Department for this purpose?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Long)The Committee will sit at the Admiralty. It will make its report to the Board of Admiralty and not to any particular member of the Board. No new Department of the Admiralty will be instituted.
17 Lieut.-Colonel MALONEasked whether the agenda for the Welfare Committee will be prepared by the Admiralty or left to the Committee?
§ Mr. LONGThe agenda will consist of the representations put forward by the different classes of ratings; and will not be prepared or in any way altered by the Admiralty.
18. Lieut.-Colonel MALONEasked whether, in view of the provisions of the King's Regulations, it is proposed to draft legislation on the lines of the Police Bill in order to define the work and the constitution of the proposed Welfare Committee?
§ Mr. LONGNo legislation is necessary for this purpose, but if my hon. and gallant Friend has in view the terms of Article 11 of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, I may inform him that a modification of that Article is under consideration.
19. Lieut.-Colonel MALONEasked whether the chairman or president of the Welfare Committee which it is proposed to set up under Admiralty Weekly Order 737 will be appointed by the Admiralty or whether the election of the chairman will be left to the Committee?
§ Mr. LONGAs stated in paragraphs 2 and 4 of the Order quoted, the officers who sit on the Welfare Committee will be-selected by the Admiralty. The President of the Committee will also be selected by the Admiralty, as provided for in paragraph 4 of the Order in question.