§ 69. Mr. Craven-Ellisasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the period of qualifying service required before an officer or rating of the Royal Navy can draw a pension; whether any conditions are laid down regarding conduct in either case; what percentage of Royal Navy officers and ratings did respectively comply with the conditions for pension in the last pre-war year for which statistics are conveniently available; and what percentage of officers and ratings at present in the Royal Navy comply with these conditions?
§ Sir V. WarrenderThe grant and assessment of Service pensions to officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are governed by a variety of conditions, including conditions as to conduct, which, I regret, cannot be compressed into a short statement. As regards the first and second parts of the Question, I would, therefore, refer my hon. Friend to the general regulations on the subject which appear in the Appendix to the Navy List for December, 1940; for officers on pages 45-63, and for men on pages 96-101. Of those who ceased service during the financial year ended 31st March, 1939, approximately 73 per cent. of the officers and 35 per cent. of the men were granted pensions. I am not quite clear as to the meaning of the last part of the Question, but if my hon. Friend will communicate with me, I will endeavour to furnish such information as he may desire.
§ Mr. Craven-EllisMay I have a copy of the regulations to which my hon. Friend has referred?
§ Sir V. WarrenderYes, I will see that my hon. Friend gets one