§ Mr. J. Hallasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that, according to the printed statements on the naval pensioners declaration forms, reservists are liable to be called up in a state of emergency and whether, in consequence of the Admiralty's statement that the pending partial mobilisation is simply to train reservists, any decision has been made as to the treatment of naval pensioners who ignore the calling-up notice on the grounds that no state of emergency exists?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Admiralty have decided that it is necessary in the national interests that ships of the Reserve Fleet should be placed in commission temporarily and it is for this purpose that the men are being called out for service under the powers given to the Admiralty by the Order-in-Council made on the 25th May, 1939, under the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Act, 1939. It is not open to a naval pensioner to ignore the calling-up notice.
§ Mr. J. Hallasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is proposed to call up men of the Royal Naval Reserve who were pensioned prior to 1933 in view of the Government's policy that pensioners, if called up, would be men who have left the service most recently?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThis depends entirely on the rating and branch of the pensioners. Men will be called up to meet754W manning requirements, and in some branches and ratings this will involve calling up pensioners discharged prior to 1933.