§ Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what Directors General there are at the Admiralty; when each of them left his last sea service; and whether the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty consider that it is in the interests of the service and personnel they represent that such officers should have recent sea experience?
Mr. AlexanderThere are two Directors General at the Admiralty, the Medical 45W Director General and the Paymaster Director General. The officers at present holding these appointments last served at sea in 1930 and 1934 respectively. Most of the more important appointments for senior officers in the Accountant Branch, and all such appointments in the Medical Branch, are on shore. I do not, therefore consider that recent sea experience is of especial value in the case of either the Medical Director General or the Paymaster Director General, particularly as a number of the officers appointed as their assistants at the Admiralty come direct from sea service or have had recent sea experience. Moreover, senior officers of both Departments take every opportunity of visiting the Ports and Bases where ships are under construction or in commission.