§ 70. Commander Maitlandasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps his Department have taken to reconstitute the Royal Naval Reserve.
Mr. DugdaleRatings who were in the Royal Naval Reserve prior to September, 1939, have been given the opportunity of re-enrolling in the Reserve, and officers who held permanent commissions in the Royal Naval Reserve before September, 1939, are still regarded as forming part of the Reserve. As I explained in reply to hon. Members on 3rd November, no new enrolments can be made in the Reserve until it has been possible to resolve the difficulties connected with its reconstitution.