17. Sir F. HALLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, under the new naval pension scheme, officers who retire will, if called up, retain their pensions, and if any service during war or on emergency will count for an increase of pension; whether the proposed arrangements will be confirmed by an Order in Council; and, if so, whether such Order will deal clearly with this point to guard against the injustice done in this respect to retired royal naval and royal marine officers who were called up during the late War.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Colonel Sir James Craig)It is assumed that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the scheme recently published for clearing the lists of surplus officers. On this point I would observe that, with the exception of warrant officers and, in some cases, of mates, officers who retire under this scheme will only receive a pension if over the age of 36. An officer retiring on pension under this scheme if called up will not be paid his pension in addition to full pay, nor will his service during war or emergency 374 count for increase of pension. Instead of his service counting for increase, the bonus on full pay payable under existing Regulations will be granted.
The scales of gratuities and pensions will be confirmed by Order in Council, but as indicated in the answer to the first part of the question, nothing will be inserted in the Order varying existing Regulations bearing on the points in question.