§ MR. HEALYasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether, in view of the facts that the present senior Assistant Paymaster has over fifteen years' seniority, and is thirty-six years of age, that no compulsory retirement of Paymasters will occur during the present year, and that it is inevitable that some of the first fifty Assistant Paymasters now on the list, the junior of whom has thirteen years' seniority, must reach twenty years' seniority before being promoted, the Admiralty will take some steps, either by increasing the Paymasters' list, or otherwise, to ameliorate the condition of these officers; if not, what seniority may Naval Assistant Paymasters look forward to reaching before expecting any improvement in their prospects?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSir, I have within the last three weeks answered a number of Questions on this subject, and my answers cover all the particulars in the hon. Member's Question. I would especially beg to refer him to my answers to the hon. Members for the City of London and for Limerick on the 20th and 27th of March. In replying to previous Questions, I have stated that we do not contemplate taking any steps in view of the temporary ! nature of the present slackness of promotion.