§ 17. Major - General Sir ROBERT HUTCHISONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the number of lieut.-commanders of the Royal Navy who have retired under Admiralty Fleet Order 1030, of 1929; and whether the number is considered to have appreciably reduced the congestion in the lieut.-commanders' list?
§ Mr. AMMONSixty-eight retired under Admiralty Fleet Order 1036/29, and as a result the surplus on the list has been appreciably reduced.
§ 18. Sir R. HUTCHISONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of lieut.-commanders who are out of the promotion zone now and the estimated number who will be out of the zone on 1st January, 1931?
§ Mr. AMMONThe number is now 165. It is not possible to give any reliable estimate of the number on the 1st January, 1931, but the present number, which is abnormally low, will almost certainly be increased.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODDoes that reply mean that the Government are prepared to make provision for admirals who are going to be dispensed with through disarmament and no provision is going to be made for the ordinary rank and file working men?