§ MR. BELLAIRSI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the rule is still in force, and will continue in force, that all candidates for naval cadetships will be required to volunteer for any one of the three branches of executive engineering, and marine officers, so that the Admiralty can allocate the careers of the officers at their sole discretion; and, if so, whether he will notify it in the most public manner, so that the parents of cadets may know that the statement of Admiralty policy, 30th November, which decided against 1235 permanent specialisation in the three branches, has been cancelled.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe rule referred to remains in force, and the statement of Admiralty policy has not been cancelled.
§ MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an impression to the contrary exists in the public mind since he made his speech on the Estimates?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI am not.