HC Deb 19 July 1944 vol 402 cc175-6
23. Sir I. Albery

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps are taken, when middle-aged officers become redundant, to facilitate their further employment by the Admiralty or in some other work of national importance.

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. A. V. Alexander)

Under present conditions, if an officer should become redundant in an appointment, there is normally little difficulty in finding him alternative employment within the Naval service, provided that he continues to be medically fit for general service. The allocation of officers who cannot remain in the Service to work of national importance outside the Service is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour and National Service.

Commander Sir Archibald Southby

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether his answer applies to officers in the Marines; and is he aware that there is a case of a man having reached the rank of major-general in the Marines and having been put on the retired list at the age of 49?

Mr. Alexander

That may be so in certain cases, but the last part of my answer applies to them.