§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that many gunner warrant officers with over twenty years service as such are still awaiting their step in promotion to chief gunner, the Admiralty will consider the advisability of quickening the flow of promotion by at once filling the ten unappropriated positions of lieutenant remaining of the total of 100 established in 1903.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) There are only thirteen gunner warrant officers with twenty years service as such and satisfactory records who are awaiting promotion to the rank of chief gunner, the senior of them having only twenty and one-third years service. Owing to 357 the increase in the gunners' list, a longer period of service will in future be necessary before promotion, and the time does not seem to be ripe for filling the ten posts in question, especially as there are no appointments which the additional lieutenants, if made, could fill.