§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the difference in the pension paid to a rear-admiral over that of a captain in the Royal Navy; whether the pension can be claimed after one day's holding of the rank of rear-admiral; and whether the 16 rear-admirals who have retired at their own request on or shortly after promotion from April, 1920, to March, 1922, are in receipt of full rear-admiral's pension?
§ Mr. AMERYThe average difference of retired pay of a captain before promotion to rear-admiral, and the same, for an officer on promotion, is about £175 a year. Service as a captain qualifies for promotion to rear-admiral; if this service has been given, and the officer promoted1368W accordingly, he is entitled to a rear-admiral's pension whenever he retires. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative. I would, in this connection, refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Rotherham on the 22nd February.