§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in order to give men about to retire, after 22 years in the service, every facility to secure civilian employment, he will arrange as far as possible that a relief be sent during the last six months of their time, so that the men concerned can be free to look round for civilian work?
Mr. ALEXANDERIf the meaning of the question is that men about to be discharged to pension should be relieved from service abroad as far as possible during their last six months of service, this is already provided for in the regulations It is not of course possible to provide that these men, who are on full pay and are included m the numbers voted by Parliament for naval purposes, 419W shall have indefinite leave during that time to look for civil employment. But I would remind the hon. Member that men are afforded facilities to undergo courses of vocational training either before discharge to pension or during the 12 months following.