§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of iieutenant-commanders of 38 years and over it is contemplated will be retired under the further naval reductions?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANOwing to a temporary surplus of lieutenant-commanders, a scheme of retirement for a small number of the older officers of this rank is under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to give details. Any scheme, however, will be entirely Voluntary, and in the circumstances it is not possible to give an estimate of the number who will retire.