§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the salary offered to the Director of Naval Construction, namely, £l,500 per annum, rising to a maximum of £1,800, is considerably lower than that which can be earned in the employment of a private firm by a man with the requisite professional knowledge; and whether, in view of this fact, the Admiralty will take the necessary steps so as to secure as the successor to the present director the most talented member of the profession?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe salary named by the hon. Gentleman has not been in operation for many years. I need hardly say 1016 that the Admiralty will endeavour to secure the services of the most suitable gentleman to fill the prospective vacancy referred to.
§ Mr. ASHLEYIs the salary of the Director of Naval Construction included in the Navy Estimates?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe hon. Gentleman will see from the Navy Estimates that the salary of the present Director of Naval Construction is £3,000.
§ Mr. LEEWill the right hon. Gentleman, at any rate, see that the salary which has been paid for so many years is not reduced in the case of the present director's successor?
§ Mr. McKENNAI cannot give any undertaking on that point. We shall obtain the best man we can get, and I hope he will be paid a reasonable rate.