§ 9. Viscount CURZONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether all the lieut.-commanders 334 promoted to the rank of commander on the 31st March last, and antedated to 31st December last, have been paid at commander's rate of pay as from the date of their promotion; if not, whether the reason can be stated; and, in view of the altogether exceptional circumstances, if the payment of the difference of pay to these officers can be authorised forthwith?
§ Mr. AMERYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The position of those officers who received lieut.-commanders' pay only between the 31st December, 1921, and the 31st March, 1922, owing to their being in posts specifically laid down for officers of that rank, is under consideration.
§ Viscount CURZONWhat does the right hon. Gentleman mean by "under consideration," and have any of these officers been paid commanders' pay?
§ Mr. AMERYIn the case of those who have been in lieut.-commanders' posts and have received lieut.-commanders' pay during that period and have not so far received the difference between that and commanders' pay the question whether it is possible to pay them that difference and treat them as having been commanders is under consideration at this moment.