§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the conditions governing the promotion of writers from the second to the first grade have not yet been communicated to the clerical staff, he will arrange for them to be promulgated at once?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf my hon. Friend refers to the regulations now in existence governing the entry, classification, pay, and promotion of the writing staff, I have no doubt the members of that staff are fully acquainted with existing conditions, inasmuch as they have now been in force for over four and a half years. If, however, he refers to changes which may result from the recommendations of the Committee which inquired into the conditions of service, etc., of the writing staff in 1908–09, I have already informed him that the Report of that Committee is still the subject of communication between the Admiralty and the Treasury.
§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked what further qualifications are required to enable the secretaries to the constructive and engineering managers to become eligible for appointment as secretaries to the admiral superintendents?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is not considered that the nature of the training and experience of the principal writers in the constructive and engineering departments, to whom I conclude my hon. Friend refers, fit them for appointment as secretaries to Admiral Superintendent.
§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that vacancies have existed for senior writers in the engineering and constructive departments at the Home dockyards for several years past; that provision has been made in the Navy Estimates for these posts; and will he say on what service the money so provided has been expended?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative; part of the money provided has been expended in the payment of substitutes; part has not been expended. Some of the posts in question have been abolished, in accordance with the report of the Writers' Committee. Proposals for filling the remainder are now before the Board.
§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked whether it is contemplated in future to fill any vacancies 1384 on the directing staff of the expense accounts department from the writing staff?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe claims of the writing staff will receive due consideration.