§ 73. Mr. Dumpletonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many sick berth attendants due for demobilisation are being retained under the Military Necessity Clause; and for how long their release will be delayed beyond the normal date.
Mr. Dugdale357 sick berth attendants who would normally have been released by 15th January last are retained under the Military Necessity Clause. I very much regret that the manning situation in the Navy necessitates the retention of this number of men, but I can assure my hon. Friend that every possible step is being taken to meet the situation. The provision of reliefs for sick berth staff retained under the Military Necessity Clause has priority over all other commitments. We hope at an early date to be able to transfer ratings from other Branches to the Sick Berth Branch, thus enabling us to release a number of those now being retained under the Military Necessity Clause.
Mr. Baker Whiteasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that 38 sick berth attendants in demobilisation group 71 who were due for release on 14th January, 1948, are still being held back at Chatham; and what is the reason for the delay in their release.
Mr. DugdaleI am aware that a number of sick berth attendants in demobilisation Group 71 in the Nore Command have 281W been retained beyond 14th January. They have been retained under the Military Necessity Clause and in this connection I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Albans (Mr. Dumpleton).