§ Dr. Petersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (1) whether, in view of our shipping losses, and the anxiety about finding sufficient personnel to man additional shipping of 8,000,000 tons, he will now arrange to set up refresher courses for sea-going officers registered with the Merchant Navy Reserve, for those who have not been to sea for some years; and, if not, on what grounds;
(2) how many Merchant Navy officers are registered, with recent experience at sea, who are still held in reserve; and whether these officers will be protected from being called up for service in the Army?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe number of navigating officers employed ashore who have registered as having had experience at sea since the beginning of 1936 and who have not been called upon to return to the Merchant Navy is about 2,000. Those who so registered are not automatically reserved but arrangements have been made with the Service Departments under which suitable men who have had experience at sea and who desire to return to the Merchant Navy are specially considered for release from the Armed Forces for this purpose. In these circumstances and having regard to the number of officers available in the Merchant Navy Reserve Pool for immediate appointment to ships it is not considered necessary to provide refresher courses of the kind to which the hon. Member refers.
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§ Dr. Petersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how many sea-going officers and/or men registered with the Merchant Navy Reserve have been called up for service in the Army?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerAll sea-going Merchant officers and men have been reserved for service with the Merchant Navy. I am not able to say how many officers and men who had left the Merchant Navy for other occupations may have been called up for service in the Army.