asked the Prime Minister whether the terms of reference and the exact composition of the Committee to inquire into the withheld retired pay of naval officers can yet be given?

I have been asked to reply. The terms of reference are as follows: To consider, with special reference to the cases of warrant officers and commissioned officers promoted from warrant officer, the Regulations governing the emoluments of retired naval and marine officers called up, retained, or volunteering for service during the period of a war, and to advise whether the Regulation suspending retired pay or pension is or is not a reasonable one in all the circumstances.

The Committee consists of the following gentlemen:

• Mr. Holman Gregory, K.C. (Chairman),
• Sir Cyril Jackson, K.B.E.,
• Sir Leo Chiozza Money,
• Mr. A. Emil Davies, and
• Lieutenant W. A. Rhind, M.B.E., R.N.

Am I to understand that the terms of reference do not cover all officers? Will they include officers who have not risen from the lower deck?

They will include all the officers about whom the question was originally raised.

Was the last-named gentleman one of the officers involved?

Not to my knowledge.