§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the future of the Admiralty Ferry Crew Association.
§ Mr. KirkIt has been decided to disband List III of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service which constitutes the active element of the Admiralty Ferry 283W Crew Association, and transfer all its members who wish to do so to List I or II of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service.
The ferrying rôle which it was designed to perform has now been overtaken by the circumstances likely to arise in an emergency today, and its continuance cannot be justified.
In reviewing the position I was conscious of the service and loyalty rendered by the members concerned who, since the war, have trained and provided for the task of ferrying craft from operational harbours around our shoes in times of emergency.
We are very anxious that the valuable services and seagoing experience of these volunteers should not be lost to the country, and I very much hope that htey will support the revised arrangements. These will offer wider opportunities and continuing afloat duties to all who are fit to undertake them.