§ Mr. Parkerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the executive warrant officers to be promoted direct to lieutenant under the new scheme of promotion are to be eligible for promotion to commander and higher ranks; and, if so, whether he will have a statement to this effect added to the Admiralty Fleet Order issued on the subject in which at present there is no reference to promotion?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe answer is in the affirmative. Unless the contrary is expressly stated, all lieutenants must be regarded as eligible for promotion to commanders and above under the conditions laid down in King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.
§ Mr. Parkerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether warrant officers promoted to lieutenant under the new scheme will be eligible for the maximum rate of retired pay for lieutenant-commanders, namely, £407 10s. per annum, if they can complete the 19 years' service required by the regulations, and also be able to obtain similar amounts to cadet-entry officers for less than 19 years' retired-pay service?
§ Mr. ShakespeareNo, Sir; the maximum retired pay which can be earned by a lieutenant-commander promoted from warrant officer under the new scheme is £346 a year at the age of 45. The normal scale of retired pay for cadet-entered2070W officers is based on age and service and after 19 years commissioned service from age 21 such an officer would have earned retired pay of £298 10s. a year. The only lieutenant-commanders who can ordinarily earn the maximum rate of £407 10s. a year after 19 years' commissioned service are those entered as fully qualified officers in the non-executive branches, for example, medical officers.