§ 66. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the number of lieutenancies for long and zealous service has been reduced by the compulsory retirement 2315 scheme of 1922, thereby making narrower the channels of promotion of the commissioned officers from warrant rank, it can be agreed that 8 per cent. lieutenancies for long and zealous service be given?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMAlthough the actual number of lieutenancies has been reduced since 1922, in consequence of the reduction in the total number of officers in the various branches of warrant officers to which the 1922 retirement scheme applied, the percentage of the number of lieutenants to the total number of officers remains the same, and the scale of promotion is unaffected. No reason, therefore, is seen for an increase in the number of lieutenants, more especially as the effect of the 1922 scheme was, generally speaking, to retire the more senior officers, and thus, for the time being, to accelerate the promotion of those remaining.