HC Deb 12 December 1945 vol 417 cc383-5
12. Major Boyd-Carpenter

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many naval officers are teachers by profession, and what number of these have been released from the Service under Group B.

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

The answer to this Question is rather lengthy and detailed. I propose, therefore, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

The number of teachers whose names have been received from the Ministry of Education and who are officers in the Navy is 1,190. In addition, there are in the Navy an uncertain number of naval officers who are teachers by profession, but whose names have not been forwarded by the Ministry of Education, presumably because they are teaching in a private capacity. Of the 1,190, 166 have already been nominated for release in Class B, a further list of 32 is just being issued, and a larger batch of about 500 will follow shortly. Of the 166 who have already been nominated, 94 have been re leased, 27 have refused release, and no reply has been received from the remainder. The position of teachers employed as instructors or naval schoolmasters is explained in the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Cambridge University (Mr. Pick thorn) on 21st November.

25. Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will accelerate the demobilisation of supply and secretariat officers, R.N.V.R., particularly in view of the situation revealed in Admiralty General Message 682A Too 121119/ November.

Mr. Alexander

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche) on 31st October.

Lieut.-Commander Braithwaite

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, to relieve the situation, he is making use of special branch officers to help with clerical duties, thus releasing some of the supply branch so that they may return to their banks and insurance offices from which they have been away for so long?

Mr. Alexander

A great many improvisations are taking place. The main thing which we have to do, with the limited intake we can get at the present time, is to have people properly trained to do what is, after all, very important work.

20. Viscount Hinchingbrooke

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will publish the dates of release of naval V.A.D.s, by groups.

Mr. Alexander

Yes, Sir. I have arranged for the programme of releases to be published in the Official Report today.

Following is the programme:

The present programme of releases is as follows:

Groups 1 to 10 to complete if possible on 31st December, 1945. Groups 11 to 20 to complete if possible on 31st January, 1946. Groups 21 to 26 to complete if possible on 28th February, 1946. Groups 27 to 30 to complete if possible on 31st March, 1946. Groups 31 to 33 to complete if possible on 30th April, 1946. Groups 34 to 36 to complete if possible on 31st May, 1946. Groups 37 to 38 to complete if possible on 30th June, 1946.

These figures do not include married women who have already been dispersed except for those who wish to remain.