§ Mr. Callaghanasked the First Lord of the Admiralty to what extent the de- 624W mobilisation of former Merchant Navy men now serving in the Royal Navy under T 124X Agreements is lagging behind the rest of the Navy; and on what grounds.
Mr. AlexanderThe rate of release of T 124X personnel has not up to the present been as rapid as that of general service ratings because of special operational requirements for classes of ships manned by T 124X personnel. With the cessation of hostilities in the Far East the position has been under revision, and arrangements are being made which will, it is hoped, speed up the release of T 124X personnel and within the next few months enable it to equal the rate of release of General Service ratings.