§ MR. BORLASEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is true, as appears by the Navy List, that between the 27th of October 1880 and the 3rd of March 1882, only five carpenters' mates have been promoted to the rank of carpenter, as compared with four times that number in the two preceding years; and, if so, whether he will take into consideration the case of those numerous carpenters' mates who, having been induced by hope of promotion to enter upon a technical examination in skilled labour, are at the present moment on the list of those who have successfully passed it?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIn answer to my hon. Friend, I have to say that the number of promotions to 1611 the rank of carpenter was for some time temporarily diminished, in order to allow the list to be reduced, for the reasons stated by my Predecessor in introducing the Estimates; the greater part of the saving thus arising being appropriated to giving the sea-rate of pay to warrant officers "in other ships." As to the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, it must be observed that, although passing an examination may be a condition of promotion, it does not give a claim to receive promotion, and that passing such an examination as is alluded to is likely to lead to advantages in pay, even when it is not followed by promotion to warrant rank.