§ Mr. Perkinsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what representations or complaints he has received regarding the method of promotion of extemporary Royal Marine officers; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. CallaghanRepresentations have been received in two cases recently that the rules governing the adjustment of the seniority of temporary lieutenants, Royal 81W Marines, on transfer to permanent commissions tended to give these officers an advantage over those who were commissioned direct into the Royal Marines by examination.
The adjustment was calculated to prevent undue hardship to permanent officers of similar seniority and is in fact such that the average age of direct entry officers on promotion to lieutenant is slightly lower than that of the ex-temporary officers after transfer.
Amongst the 200 officers in both categories concerned there are naturally a few cases where individuals who were commissioned at a lower age than the majority enjoy some consequent advantage. But my noble Friend is satisfied that overall the regulations operated without injustice and he does not propose to alter them.