HC Deb 13 March 1940 vol 358 cc1183-5
43. Mr. Parker

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many flag officers have been recalled from the retired list since the declaration of war and given active service or other employment?

Mr. Shakespeare

The number of flag officers on the retired list who have been given naval appointments since the declaration of war is 128. As in the majority of cases these officers could not be given appointments appropriate to their rank, they have volunteered to serve in a temporary lower rank.

Mr. Parker

Is it not rather anomalous to bring retired men back to the Service when you are continually retiring men who are in the Service?

Mr. Shakespeare

Certainly not in war-time.

44. Mr. Parker

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the circumstances under which nine out of the 13 captains promoted to rear-admiral at New Year were retired on promotion; how many of the nine officers so retired are in employment to-day and in what rank; and how many were asked to continue serving after retirement in the appointments they held prior to their retirement?

Mr. Shakespeare

It has been decided to continue the retirements of naval officers under the ordinary rules in order to maintain a flow of promotion and to avoid an excessive number of retirements at the end of the war. Officers so placed on the retired list remain liable for service during the war like other retired officers. Of the nine officers referred to by the hon. Member seven are in employment, three in the rank of rear-admiral, one as commodore, first class, and three in the rank of captain; four of them are still serving in the appointments they held prior to retirement. One of the remaining two officers is shortly being offered further employment, while the other was not in employment when promoted and has not been appointed since.

57. Mr. Parker

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the circumstances under which five flag officers have been transferred to the active list while in war-time officers with distinguished records of service are being promoted to flag rank and placed on the retired list?

Mr. Shakespeare

In the past it was the practice to retain Admirals of the Fleet on the active list until they died, as a recognition of the very distinguished services they had rendered. This has been the rule in respect of field marshals. It has been decided to revive in the Navy this old practice of not enforcing retirement upon officers who have reached the highest rank. The change will not, however, interfere with the regulated flow of promotion of deserving officers to this rank, nor will it cast any additional charge upon the public.

Mr. Parker

Could we not get on with the war rather more rapidly if some of the admirals on the active list were retired?