§ 75. Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total number of Lieut.-Commanders (ex-Mate) now on the active list; how many of these officers are 40 years of age and above; and whether he will consider the question of allowing the older officers to retire forthwith, if so desirous, with maximum retired pay (as under the special retirement scheme of 1926), in order to facilitate the selection of a larger number of candidates for mate in the next batch?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lieut.-Colonel Headlam)The total number of Lieut.-Commanders (ex-Mate) now on the Active List is 54; of these, 17 are 40 years of age and above. A special retirement scheme for the older officers (ex-Mate), even if it could be justified under present conditions, would not necessarily result in the selection of a larger number of candidates for promotion to Mate, as the numbers now coming forward who are considered suitable for promotion, are barely sufficient to fill vacancies.