§ 35. Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that for the calendar year 1928, 1,081 ratings were invalided from the Royal Navy and only 130 were found to be attributable to service, he will approve of the institution of an independent appeal tribunal where ratings who are invalided and who consider that their invaliding disability is attributable to service may state their case?
Mr. ALEXANDERAs the hon. Baronet is aware, very careful consideration was given to this question by the late Government and a very detailed reply was given to the hon. Baronet Himself by my predecessor on 18th February, 1926. No evidence has been submitted to me that the decision then made was not well founded.
§ Sir B. FALLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the) late Government granted certain important concessions but not an independent tribunal? Will he improve on that state of affairs?
Mr. ALEXANDERMay I remind the hon. Baronet that he asked the First Lord on that date whether a decision had been reached regarding the independent appeal tribunal?
§ Sir B. FALLENo answer was made to the question.
Mr. ALEXANDERIf the hon. Baronet has any more evidence than was submitted to the Admiralty in 1926 he had better send it to them.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHADoes the right hon. Gentleman completely identify himself with the policy of his predecessor in this respect?