§ Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether promotion to the ranks of commander and above during the war will be curtailed because of officers who would normally retire being retained in the service, in the same way that the advancement of active service ratings is being curtailed in corresponding circumstances?
§ Mr. ShakespeareWith regard to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, the answer is in the negative. With regard to the second part of the Question, the number of higher rates in the lower deck will be governed during the war by the actual extent to which higher duties have to be performed. All advancements to higher rates will in the first place be temporary, but men in the permanent naval service will be eligible to have these temporary advancements converted to permanent advancements in vacancies occuring in complement numbers after the war.