§ 40. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many oil tankers there are in the Navy; how many of these are over 8,000 tons dead weight; how many of the oil tankers are employed exclus'vely on naval work and bow many are otherwise employed; how many are laid up; what are the conditions of service of the officers employed in the Admiralty oil tankers; and whether there is a pension or superannuation scheme in operation for them?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEOn a point of Order. In regard to the first part 542 of this Question, is not the information sought for available in public documents?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYOn that point of order. This information is not in the Return of Fleets.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lieut.-Colonel Headlam)The reply to the first part of the question is 64, to the second part 21, to the third part 37 and 18 respectively, to the fourth part 9. As to the remainder of the question, except in three small vessels engaged in harbour duties, the conditions of service of the officers are those of the ordinary mercantile marine. No pension or superannuation scheme is at present in operation. The three small vessels referred to are manned under special yard craft conditions, and some of the officers are pensionable.
Lieut,-Commander KENWORTHYIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that many of the best shipping lines have pension and superannuation schemes for their officers, and that this means that the Admiralty are employing officers under worse conditions than other good employers; and will he look into the matter with a view to producing a scheme?
§ Lieut. - Colonel HEADLAMThe Admiralty are looking into the question at the present time, and I hope a superannuation scheme may, be devised. I cannot say how long it would take to produce such a scheme, but it would naturally take a considerable time.