§ MR. HANBURY-TRACYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he will state how many Officers have qualified, or are now qualifying, for navigating duties under the Admiralty Circular of August 1873; whether it is his intention to take any further steps for encouraging Officers to avail themselves of that scheme, and for enlarging the scope of those proposals; and, whether it is his intention to offer any plan of retirement or amalgamation to Staff Commanders and Navigating Lieutenants in view of the gradual abolition of a separate grade of Officers for navigating duties?
§ MR. HUNTSir, the Circular referred to by the hon. Gentleman provides for the appointment in the first instance of five lieutenants under four years' standing, and 20 sub-lieutenants to navigating duties. One lieutenant has qualified, four lieutenants are qualifying; 11 sub-lieutenants have qualified, and nine sub-lieutenants are qualifying, making up the total numbers fixed. The system being only just commenced there is no immediate intention to extend the scope of it. With regard to the last Question, I have to say that representations have been made to me on the part of the navigating officers with reference to their position which I am anxious to 1347 consider with more care than I have at present been able to bestow upon them; and I am therefore not yet in a position to say whether any measures will be taken in the direction indicated by the hon. Member's Question.