§ Mr. Callaghanasked the First Lord of the Admiralty in what circumstances sub-lieutenants and other naval officers are permitted to resign the service; and by what authority the Royal Navy retains the services of naval officers who were entered through the Royal Naval College by their parents and who do not wish to make the Royal Navy a career.
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasApplications from naval officers to retire or resign are considered individually in the light of the needs of the Service and the nature of the reasons given. It is not possible to define in general terms the circumstances in which applications might be approved; these would differ greatly as between an officer who had just completed his training and one approaching the normal age of retirement.
The authority to retain the services of officers derives from the Naval Discipline Act.