§ Mr. Priceasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that Alec Henry Meek, at present at the Royal Naval School of Music, North Barracks, Deal, has applied for discharge from the service; that he is willing to pay the amount necessary for his discharge; that he has passed into the Birmingham City Police Force where good prospects await him, and that his discharge has been refused without grounds given; and will he review this case with a view to granting a discharge?
Mr. CooperThe hon. Member will appreciate that the release of a rating before the expiry of his engagement must be governed primarily by the needs of the Service. In the instance to which he refers it was not possible to grant the man's request owing to a shortage of trained men in the branch to which he belongs.