§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the statement made in the House by the right hon. Member for the Ealing Division of Middlesex, on the 14th March last year, when be was First Lord of the Admiralty, that he would favourably entertain the claims of the Warrant Officers of the Navy for acceleration of promotion and the creation of a new rank above the present rank of Chief Gunner, 867 Boatswain, and Carpenter, as set forth in their "Earnest Appeal" of that year; and whether any steps are being taken by the present Board of Admiralty to meet these claims?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONYes, Sir. The subject has been brought to my notice. It is receiving the careful attention of the Admiralty, but I am not at present in a position to make any definite statement.