asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the period of qualifying service required before an officer or rating of the Royal Navy can draw a pension; whether any conditions are laid down regarding conduct in either case; what percentage of Royal Navy officers and ratings did respectively comply with the conditions for pension in the last pre-war year for which statistics are conveniently available; and what percentage of officers and ratings at present in the Royal Navy comply with these conditions?

The grant and assessment of Service pensions to officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are governed by a variety of conditions, including conditions as to conduct, which, I regret, cannot be compressed into a short statement. As regards the first and second parts of the Question, I would, therefore, refer my hon. Friend to the general regulations on the subject which appear in the Appendix to the Navy List for December, 1940; for officers on pages 45-63, and for men on pages 96-101. Of those who ceased service during the financial year ended 31st March, 1939, approximately 73 per cent. of the officers and 35 per cent. of the men were granted pensions. I am not quite clear as to the meaning of the last part of the Question, but if my hon. Friend will communicate with me, I will endeavour to furnish such information as he may desire.

May I have a copy of the regulations to which my hon. Friend has referred?

Yes, I will see that my hon. Friend gets one