§ 20. Commander Viscount CURZONasked how many retired officers of the Royal Navy, officers and men of the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, have not yet been demobilised; and by what date demobilisation of those officers and men will be completed, if any, and upon what duties they are still employed?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere are approximately 200 retired officers of the Royal Navy, and 4,600 officers and men of the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who have not yet been demobilised. They are principally employed on reconditioning of trawlers, mine-clearance, disarming of merchant ships and other work incident to the conclusion of the War. Their demobilisation will depend upon the completion of these duties, and it is hoped that the majority will be released by 31st December next, and all, except a small percentage, by 31st March, 1920. I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that 18,300 officers and 233,000 men have been demobilised up to date.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the policy of the Admiralty to employ Royal Naval Reserve officers and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve officers while officers of the Regular Navy, who do not wish to be so placed, are put on half-pay, unemployed?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo. The Committee over which I preside have gone into that, and wherever a Royal Naval Volunteer officer can be dispensed with and his place taken by a Royal Naval officer, that is being done.