Sir L. HARMSWORTHasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will cause inquiry to be made as to whether many crofters, fishermen, and other priority men are being retained in the auxiliary services of the Navy around Malta through failure of the department concerned to provide reliefs where necessary?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMany men who will ultimately be demobilised are being retained for the present because the vessels which they man and which do not form part of the post-War Fleet cannot yet be dispensed with. Beliefs cannot be provided in all cases, but every permanent Service man is being used the moment he becomes available. We are fully alive to the claim of the fishermen especially to every consideration at our hands, and are doing all we can to meet them.