§ Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a number of ex-naval and ex-reserve accountant officers, who have been out of the Navy for more than 20 years, have been re-employed in the ranks of paymaster lieutenant-commander, or paymaster-commander; and whether, if these officers are equal to the work involved, he will reconsider the appointment of paymaster captains and the presence of six of them in each of the home ports?
Mr. AlexanderYes, Sir. These officers have been re-employed because the work of the accountant branch has vastly increased under war conditions, and because they are competent to fill the posts for which they have been selected. I see no reason to reconsider the posts held at the naval ports by paymaster captains. The hon. Member will realise that the entry of additional officers to carry out additional duties does not automatically reduce the work of officers already borne in the authorised complement.