§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any men of the Royal Navy of the necessary good character, who have applied for their discharge by purchase, and had their applications approved by their captains and commanders-in-chief, have had their applications refused by the Admiralty?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe rules governing discharge by purchase are given in Article 597 of the King's Regulations, and it will be seen that on foreign stations and under certain conditions at home, authority to approve discharges of men from the service by purchase is vested in the commanders-in-chief and senior officers without reference to the Admiralty. In all other cases at home, applications for discharge by purchase are submitted for the consideration of the Admiralty, who decide each case on its merits.