26. Captain HALLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the particular regulation which lays it down that a naval pensioner re-employed after a lapse of five years cannot count his previous service towards progressive and good-conduct badge pay; and if, as this bears hardly on deserving men, he will take steps to abolish this regulation?
§ Mr. AMMONThe regulation referred to is contained in Article 1584 of King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions and applies to all men voluntarily reentered and not to pensioners only. It provides that absence from the Naval Service for a longer period than live year entails forfeiture of previous service for all purposes, unless otherwise ordered by the Admiralty in a particular case. Men who, while not actually on the active list, have maintained touch with service matters and discipline, e.g., by means of drills as Royal Fleet Reservists, are allowed the benefits of reckoning former time even if their period of absence exceeds five years. No reason is seen for abolishing the rule.
| — | Full Commission. | Special Commission. | Reserve. | Paid off (for repairs, etc.). |
| Cruisers | 31 | 5 | 11 | 7 |
| Destroyer Leadersand Destroyers | 67 | 27 | 53 | 3 |
| Sloops | 26 | 1 | 4 | — |