§ Sir G. Jeffreysasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that there is a strong feeling in the R.N. that 110W the length of foreign service commissions is too long; and whether he will consider reducing the length of these commissions in future.
§ Mr. AlexanderThe need to maintain the present rate of release in age and ser vice groups, and the continuing heavy commitments of the Royal Navy over seas, preclude any reduction in length of foreign service commissions which are now no longer on the average than the normal peacetime period of 2½ years. The length of a foreign service commission is governed primarily by the stage at which a ship must return to this country for refitting, though at present many ships are, as the Fleet reduces, returning to the United Kingdom before the expiration of a full tour.