§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the first Lord of the Admiralty whether promotion among the men in the Coastguard has been suspended since the list of promotions was issued last August; whether in other branches of the Navy the promotions have been accelerated by the War; and, if so, whether he can see his way to mitigate the hardship inflicted on deserving men who have passed their examinations for promotion?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAPromotion amongst the Coastguard ratings serving ashore has been suspended since the beginning of the War in the interests of those who are serving afloat, in order that those on shore should not be promoted over the heads of those who, without any option, have been embarked, 1163W and are thus outside the Coastguard organisation and are serving under the Regulations for active service ratings in the Fleet. Any acceleration occasioned by the War in the advancement of ratings in the Fleet, applies temporarily to the majority of the Coastguard who are serving afloat; but at the end of the War, Coastguard ratings advanced in the Fleet will, on returning to the Coastguard service, revert to their Coastguard rates, and the large number of vacancies caused by the discharge of men retained beyond the age limit, and of men wishing to take their pension, will be filled by promotions from the Coastguard as a whole.