§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Board of Admiralty intend to recognise the responsible, dangerous, and contiuously hard work which has been performed by naval officers in convoys; and whether acting captains who have been at sea in charge of convoys are being ordered to revert to commander's rank or given the option of retiring on commanders' pensions?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Board of Admiralty are fully conscious of the value of the work carried out by these officers, and the form in which this service should be recognised has been engaging their attention. But, as my hon. Friend will be aware, acting appointments in higher ranks are granted to officers carrying out particular duties which necessitate the higher rank, and it is the custom that when these duties cease the officers revert to their original rank. It is at the option of these officers to remain in the Service in their confirmed rank or to retire, in which event they would receive the retired pay of their confirmed rank. The Admiralty have already considered the question of the possibility of increasing the rates of retired pay of officers holding higher acting rank, but any such plan under existing Regulations would not affect the officers in question to any extent, and it is advisable to await the 1167W Report on the general investigation into retired pay. The point will not be overlooked.