asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet selected a site for the torpedo-recovery depot for the range in Falmouth Bay; and where it is.

A site within the urban district of Falmouth has been selected provisionally. The property is at present requisitioned by the War Office, and a formal approach to the local authority is expected to be made shortly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the future of the Naval Ordnance Inspection Department.

No, Sir. This complex matter has not yet been settled, but I am going into it very thoroughly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has found it possible to offer any permanent commissions to Extended Service officers who are being retained for 18 months beyond the end of their engagements; and what number are to be offered.

Yes, Sir. Permanent commissions are to be offered to 50 of the extended service officers in the Executive Branch, and a number are to be offered in the Supply and Secretariat Branch.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why naval officers who did not retire until the 1st September, 1950, should get a higher rate of retired pay than officers who had to return to the retired list in November, 1945.

I have nothing to add to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Watkinson) on 20th November last.

Is the First Lord aware that a grave sense of injustice exists among the members of the pre-1945 category, and that that category has much more difficulty in obtaining alternative employment on account of their age.

The new system was introduced to stimulate recruiting. As far as the officers mentioned in the hon. Member's Question are concerned, they, of course, cannot be considered, as the Prime Minister said, in isolation from the position of other State pensioners.