HC Deb 07 November 1945 vol 415 cc1251-2
2. Squadron-Leader Sir Gifford Fox

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he expects that the releases from the Navy will have reached a state where officers and ratings in the same groups are demobilised simultaneously.

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

I regret I am unable to forecast when this state will be reached, but the hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that it will not be delayed one day later than is necessary.

Sir G. Fox

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is an unfair class distinction here which is greatly resented in the Navy?

Mr. Alexander

No, Sir. I am unaware of anything of that sort. It is simply a matter of fact, that the officers are of such different ages that we have to let all the older ages out first, and therefore in order to maintain the Service we must work in the way we are doing.

Mr. Pickthorn

Is it an example of the new method of planning that that fact was not seen beforehand?

7. Mr. Pickthorn

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how far and why the release of instructor officers is behind that of executive officers and what is being done to remove the difference; and what groups of instructor officers are to be released at what dates before the middle of 1946.

Mr. Alexander

The answer to this Question is unavoidably long. I will, therefore, with the hon. Member's permission circulate it in the Official Report.

Following is the answer:

The release of instructor officers is somewhat behind that of executive officers but by the end of the year the difference should be no more than one group. The main reason for this difference is that instructor officers are required to perform important duties in connection with the Educational and Vocational Training Scheme. With a view to removing this impediment to the release of instructor officers large numbers of officers of other branches are being trained to assist them in these duties. The future programme of releases is complicated by the fact that the groups in the middle 20's are comparatively large. Progress must depend largely on the effectiveness of the training scheme which is now well under way and the most that I can say about the rate of release between now and mid 1946 is that the release of the large groups in the middle 20's should be well advanced.