§ 14. Sir B. PETOasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that under Clause 5 of the scheme of retiring allowances for officers serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service it is provided that only one-half of the time served prior to the 1st July, 1927, will be allowed to count as qualifying time for a retiring allowance, and this provision operates to the disadvantage of those officers who are senior in rank and who served throughout the Great War, he will reconsider the provision and, in any case, allow war service to count in full in assessing allowance on retirement under the scheme?
§ Mr. AMMONThe points raised were very carefully considered when the scheme was under preparation, and I am afraid that no modifications in the direction suggested can now be made.
§ Sir B. PETOIs the hon. Gentleman of opinion that service with the Royal 403 Fleet auxiliaries during the War was less worthy of pension than such service at present?
§ Mr. AMMONI am not expressing an opinion. I have given the hon. Baronet an answer on the facts to the question he put.