§ Mr. GEORGE BALFOURasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the acting rank of paymaster of the Royal Naval Reserve is open to officers whose seniority dates back to 1904; whether four volunteer officers have been granted the acting rank; what, if any, is the disability which prevents an accountant officer of the Royal Naval Reserve from advancement extended to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve; and what sea time, if any, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve acting paymaster commanders have served?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI assume my hon. Friend refers, in the first part of his question, to the acting rank of paymaster-commander, Royal Naval Reserve. This rank is open to officers of the Royal Naval Reserve on attaining eight years' seniority 629W as paymaster lieutenant-commander, Royal Naval Reserve. It is true that four officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve have been granted the acting rank referred to, and there is no disability which prevents accountant officers of the Royal Naval Reserve from this advancement, except the fact that there are no Royal Naval Reserve accountant officers of sufficient seniority as paymaster lieutenant-commander, Royal Naval Reserve, to justify the grant of acting rank at present. As regards the last part of the question, three of the officers referred to have no sea service; the fourth served at sea from August, 1915, to November, 1918.
§ Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Royal Naval Reserve engineer officers who signed on under T.124Z Articles are eligible for gratuity on demobilisation; and, if not, whether he can state why this class of officer is so treated?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on Monday to the right hon. Member for Woolwich, in which I stated that the question of a gratuity for these officers is under consideration.