§ MR. HANBURY TRACYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he will state how many qualified Lieutenants and Sub-Lieutenants are now employed in navigating duties, and how many are now qualifying under Admiralty Circulars of 1873 and 1874; whether he proposes to take any further steps for enlarging the scope of those proposals; and, whether he has now arrived at any determination in reference to offering a scheme of retirement or amalgamation to the navigating Lieutenants and Staff Commanders, with the view of the gradual abolition of a separate grade of officers for navigating duties?
§ MR. HUNTSir, two lieutenants and 13 sub-lieutenants have qualified for navigating and pilotage duties under the Circulars of 1873 and 1874; four lieutenants and 11 sub-lieutenants are qualifying. More volunteers have been called for to undertake those duties, and it is proposed to select 30 to qualify themselves during the year. With regard to the last Question, I am not prepared to announce any determination at present, as I consider this subject, and that of the executive officers of the Navy must be dealt with as a whole.