HC Deb 25 April 1904 vol 133 cc1028-9
MR. YERBURGH

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what was the total warship tonnage building in the United Kingdom on the 31st March, 1895, and on the 31st March, 1904, specifying how much of this was, or is, battleships and how much cruisers; and whether the same figures can be given for France, Russia, Germany, and the United States.

(Answered by Mr. Pretymun.)

of pay at the rate of 24s. a day; what is the period of transition during which engineer lieutenants will be granted the rank of engineer commander without receiving the pay of that rank; and when will the new arrangements by which an engineer commander on promotion is to receive the pay (21s. a day) laid down for that rank on promotion become fully operative.

(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The requisite service referred to is eight years from the date of promotion to chief engineer under former regulations, or from date of advancement to engineer lieutenant (senior list) under present regulations. The period of transition will extend to the time when, under the arrangements introduced in connection with the new scheme of entry, etc. of officers, the average ago of engineer lieutenants with eight years additional service after advancement to the senior list will have been reduced to the full ‡This does not include Submarines. extent contemplated. It may be mentioned that meanwhile all engineer lieutenants (including those holding rank as engineer commander prior to completion of the service qualifying for the pay of that rank) are benefiting in pay compared with what they would have received if the former regulations had been retained. It is anticipated that the reduction of average age referred to above will have been made by the time officers entering under the new scheme are becoming effective. The new arrangements will then be fully operative, as the rank of engineer commander will not be granted to any engineer lieutenant before he has served the full period on the senior list orginally fixed as the qualification for promotion to that rank (viz. eight years).