§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why engineer officers who joined the service prior to 1903 are not entitled to count their time passed as pro- 2114W bationers towards pensions under the recent retirement scheme; if he is aware that these officers, though few in number, are thus placed in a disadvantageous position as compared with others of equal service; and whether the Admiralty will give further consideration to this matter?
§ Mr. AMERYPrior to 1st April, 1903, commissions were not issued to probationary assistant engineers, and as under the Naval Regulations only service covered by commission is allowed to count for retired pay purposes, the period in question cannot now be allowed to reckon. The rule is a general one and is not applicable only to officers retiring under the special retirement scheme.