§ Sir B. FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if, under the new scheme of compulsory retirement for lieutenants, Royal Navy, who have been promoted from the lower deck, those officers who attain 50 years of age after 12th August, 1922, will also obtain the special rate of retired pay and gratuity offered to those who attain the age of 50 under the scheme, or will these officers be taken as being 50 years of age on 12th August, 1922, whatever their age may be?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLLieutenants who attain the age of 50 after the 12th August, 1922, will be liable to compulsory retirement on attaining that age, and if so retired will not be eligible for the special rate of retired pay and gratuity laid down for officers who are 50 years of age or over on the 12th August, 1922. They may, however, apply to retire voluntarily under the terms laid down in paragraph 39 of Admiralty Fleet Order 1358/22, and special consideration will be given to their requests.
§ Sir B. FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if it is proposed, and, if so, will he give a reason 830W why, that commissioned officers from warrant rank who would become lieutenants for long and zealous service between the ages of 50 and 55 are to be compelled to take the retired pay of commissioned officers from warrant rank and not as lieutenants?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLThe scheme for the reduction of surplus officers takes no account of the retired pay which an officer might have obtained in consequence of promotion had he continued to serve, except as regards such promotions as would have accrued automatically during the operation of the scheme. Promotion to the rank of lieutenant for long and zealous service is not automatic, and the possibility of a commissioned officer from warrant rank being promoted to the rank of lieutenant prior to retirement could not, therefore, be taken into account.