§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the number of officers and writers on board Her Majesty's ships, and the highest and lowest pay in each class; whether the duties are almost identical and in the largest part performed by the writers; when the last inquiry was made into the condition of the Accountant Branch of the Naval Service; and whether he will consider the advisability of abolishing the present expensive officer class of Accountants?
§ *THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingThe number of Accountant Officers and Writers on the list on the 1st April, 1890, were respectively:—Accountant Officers, 455; Writers, 279: and the highest and lowest pay in each class is:—Accountant Officers—Fleet Paymaster, £602 5s. 0d.; Assistant Clerk, £45 12s. 6d.: Writers—1st class, £91 5s. 0d.; 3rd class, £36 10s. 0d. It is entirely a mistake to describe the duties of Accountant Officers and Writers as identical. The Accountant Officer has frequently to perform work of a highly important and confidential nature, and he is not only entrusted with the management of the official work afloat, including the duties of cashier, but he also has charge of the Ship's Steward and his staff. The condition of the Writers was the subject of an inquiry by a Committee in 1888, but no change was then recommended. The Accountant Branch was inquired into in 1869 and 1870, and some further alterations were made in 1873; and quite recently the subject has been under the consideration of the Board, with the result that it has been found necessary to increase the number of Paymasters and Assistant Paymasters.