13. Captain HALLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reasons for the practice of his Department in promoting some ranks of naval officers on the day before and others on the actual day of retirement; and whether it makes any difference in the pension and other rights?
Mr. ALEXANDERAs the reply is rather long, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the reply:
The regulations provide in general for the grant of a step in rank at the discretion of the Admiralty to naval officers on the date of their retirement, or in some cases after retirement on reaching a specified age limit, in recognition of their services while on the active list. The grant of a step in rank under these conditions does not affect their retired pay, which is dependent on the rank last held on the active list, but in the event of their being re-employed on full pay they would receive the emoluments of the higher rank together with a bonus of 15 per cent. if re-employed in time of peace, or 25 per cent. in time of war or emergency, in lieu of counting their further service for increase of retired pay. Pensions to widows, etc., are normally dependent upon the rank last held by the officer on the active list, subject to certain exceptions.
Rear-Admirals, Engineer Rear-Admirals, and Surgeon Rear-Admirals whom it is not intended to employ further may be placed on the retired list on promotion to those ranks, and such retirement takes place from the day following the date of their promotion. Officers thus retired after promotion to the above ranks on the active list receive retired pay on the scale applicable to Rear-Admirals, widows' pensions, etc., being similarly regulated.