MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any Regulation has been promulgated by the Admiralty depriving engineer officers of the control of electrical hydraulic machinery above deck, and giving charge thereof to torpedo and gunnery lieutenants; and whether any such Regulation has been withdrawn after a few weeks for further consideration; or, if not, what steps have been and are being taken by the Admiralty with reference to any such Regulation.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThere is no foundation for the statement that the Regulation referred to by the Hon. Member has been withdrawn. When the decision of the Board to make the change was finally adopted, no orders were issued to the Fleet, because the Regulations necessary to carry the new plan into effect were being specially considered by a Committee appointed for that purpose. The Committee have now made their Report, and after it has been duly considered, the necessary Regulations will be drawn up. When that is done, orders will be issued to the Fleet in due course.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)Is it the intention of the Admiralty to convert gunnery lieutenants into mechanical engineers?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERIt is the intention of the Admiralty that they should qualify for this particular work.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLANBy what means?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThat is the matter on which the Committee reported, and the necessary Regulations are at this moment being considered by the Admiralty.