§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty by whom are nominations to compete for cadet-ships with a view to obtaining commissions in the Royal Navy conferred; on what principle is the practice of nomination based; and why is not admission to the position of commissioned officer in the Royal Navy open to public competition instead of being closed to boys whose parents and friends cannot exert sufficient influence to procure nominations.
§ MR. PRETYMANNominations of candidates for naval cadetships are made by the First Lord of the Admiralty, and to a limited extent by other members of the Board and certain naval officers holding high commands. The principle on which the practice is based, under the new system of entry, is fully described in the Papers presented to Parliament this year and last (Cd. 1962–04 and Cd. 2450–05), which show the care taken to ensure that the best boys are chosen and in the fairest possible way.