§ 10. Commander Viscount CURZONasked whether, although by a recent Army Order an Army officer who retires with acting rank, which he has held for six months or more, is entitled to retain that rank, no similar arrangements have yet been made for the Navy, and that a naval officer who retires with acting rank can retain only the substantive rank which he holds; and, if so, whether he will give an assurance that he will forthwith promulgate an Order allowing naval officers retiring with acting rank to retain that rank, and, pending the reconsideration of their pay and pension, to retain the pay and pension of their acting rank?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)I assume my Noble and gallant Friend refers to permanent officers of the Royal Navy. The rules for retirement in the Royal Navy are different from those in force in the Army, and provide for a step in rank on retirement subject to the officer possessing certain qualifications as to age and service, which ensure that the rank held on the Retired List is roughly commensurate with the rank held by officers of about the same age on the Active List. Under these Regulations practically all 2067 officers who now hold acting rank on the Active List will be eligible for a step in rank on retirement, and no reason is seen for making any alteration. The rate of retired pay, I should add, depends on the length of service and confirmed rank last held on the Active List, and is not governed by the rank on the Retired List.