§ MR. HANBURY-TRACYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, How many Officers have qualified as Interpreters in Foreign Languages under the Admiralty Circular of the 21st July 1874, specifying the number that have taken out 1st and 2nd class certificates respectively; if he will state the number that are now serving and in receipt of the extra allowance as Interpreters; and, whether it is his intention to carry out the recommendation of the Committee on "Higher Edu- 969 cation of Naval Officers," of permitting Officers whilst unemployed
to visit Foreign Countries for the purpose of studying their languages, placing them on full pay, and allowing the award of Harbour Service Time if on their return they should pass the prescribed examination?
§ MR. HUNT, in reply, said, the number of naval officers who had qualified in the manner referred to was five, of whom three had taken a first and two a second-class certificate. He was unable to say how many were now serving and in receipt of the extra allowance as interpreters. As to the recommendation of the Committee, he was not prepared to adopt it.