13. Mr. ROBINSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of officers on half pay plus civilian pay engaged at Admiralty head-quarters in October, 1913, and in October, 1927?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANFour naval officers in October, 1913, and six in October, 1927, employed at Admiralty head-quarters were in receipt of naval half-pay in addition to the salary attaching to their Admiralty appointment.
§ 17. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to Cmd. 2983. which shows that his Department employs a lower percentage of disabled ex-service men and a lower total percentage of ex-service men than any other Government Department; the reason for this state of affairs; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy it?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe position has not materially altered since March last when, in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, it was pointed out that, allowing for the fact that a large proportion of the Admiralty staffs belongs to the shipbuilding and engineering industries which were only allowed to volunteer for military service to a limited extent, the Admiralty percentage of ex-Service civil staff does not compare unfavourably with other departments.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTECan my right hon. Friend assure me that he is making every possible effort to employ as many ex-service men as he can?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANWe are following the rules laid down for the Civil Service with regard to ex-service men in exactly the same way as every other department.