§ 11. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is satisfied with the number of applications received as a result of the recent announcement regarding the new terms available to officers of the rank of lieutenant-commander for premature retirement to reduce the excessive numbers now borne; and what is the average proportion of lieutenant-commanders on the active list now being promoted to commander in the half-yearly lists?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLThe number of officers who have applied to retire under the special conditions now available has not, so far, been quite so large as might have been expected, but further applications are likely to be received before the scheme is terminated. The proportion of lieutenant-commanders reaching the promotion zone who are promoted to commander is at present roughly 40 per cent.