§ MR. MALLET (Plymouth)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the present system of using the artisan ratings under the direction of the warrant officer carpenters to make good defects in the hulls and fittings of His Majesty's ships has proved satisfactory, and maintained the efficiency of the ships; whether this system has enabled the Vote for Maintenance to be in any way reduced; and whether the Admiralty will consider the advisability of improving the position and the conditions of service of the warrant officer carpenters, by whose efforts these results have been obtained.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON,) DundeeSatisfactory work in making good minor defects and in maintaining general efficiency continues to be performed by the artisan ratings as hitherto, and the Vote for repairs is consequently less than it would otherwise be. In supervising these repairs, the carpenter warrant officers are only carrying out the duties for which they were appointed, and it is not considered that they are entitled to special treatment on this account.
§ MR. JENKINS (Chatham)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the warrant officers referred to in the Question have received no advance for twenty-five years?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI am not aware of that.