§ Sir J. Lucasasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the male officers in the Supply branches of the R.N. are beingdetained longer than W.R.N.S. officers and longer than other groups; and what steps he will take to remedy the situation.
§ Mr. J. DugdaleI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche) on 31st October last.
§ Captain F. Noel-Bakerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the delay in the demobilisation of Naval Combined Operations personnel passing through H.M.S. "Rosneath "; and what action he is taking to expedite it.
Mr. AlexanderI am aware that there was a temporary hold-up in the rate of release of Combined Operations personnel passing through "Rosneath," the cause of which I explained in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Croydon (Lieut.-Colonel Rees-Williams) on 26th November. The release of Combined Operations personnel is now proceeding regularly at "Rosneath," and the rate of release of these personnel is equal to, if not slightly ahead of, the average rate of release for the Royal Navy.