MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has seen the statements in the Press that there is a difficulty in getting a sufficient number of men to take up signalling in the Navy, in consequence of the special work involved being, as is alleged, inadequately recognised by appropriate pay and promotion; whether the ships now engaged in the manœuvres are, in some instances, short-handed as regards signalmen; and whether the Admiralty will inquire into the alleged grievances, and take steps calculated to increase the popularity of this branch of the Service?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLE-WORTH,) Lancashire, ClitheroeThe statements to which the hon. Member has directed my attention are not in accordance with the facts. No difficulty has been experienced in getting a, sufficient number of signalmen. No ships are without their total numbers of signalmen; and in the Royal Sovereign, the Flagship of the Channel Squadron, there are 18 disposable signalmen over and above her proper complement of 15. The number of ships in commission has been considerably increased of late years, and training for the higher ratings of signalmen is being pushed forward as fast as possible. The position as to pay and promotion compares very favourably with that of other branches of seamen.