§ 1. Mr. HOHLERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether, having regard to the fact that all acting sub-lieutenants are required to pass the same examination in engineering, gunnery, and torpedo, he has considered that those serving in some of the older types of ships have not the same advantages in practical work as those serving in the most recent types; and whether he will see that by appointing acting sub-lieutenants to the newer types 1012 of ships during the last six months before their examination equal advantages are secured to all?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)It is recognised that there may be inequalities of opportunity among acting sub-lieutenants owing to the difference in types of ships, but the examinations in the subjects mentioned are so framed as to minimise this disadvantage. It is, however, considered that greater disadvantage would arise from transferring an acting sub-lieutenant to a new ship and new instructing officers during the last six months of his service, experience having shown that the best results can only be obtained by moving junior officers as little as possible.