asked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is prepared to extend the opportunities, now afforded to certain other ratings, of voluntary retirement with proportionate pension to officers' cooks and stewards?

The sole object of the special discharge scheme was to effect the reduction of certain ratings, of whom there was a surplus, before the end of the financial year. The scheme was applied to all branches and grades where an existing surplus rendered it necessary. Some officers' stewards have been discharged under the scheme, but no officers' cooks were surplus. No further reductions are contemplated for this branch when those in progress are completed.