§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, as no Marine officers had at present joined under either the old or the new schemes, he would state the number of Marine officers who used to join from outside under the old scheme and the number of years that had elapsed since Marine officers joined the corps from outside sources; and whether there was any shortage of Marine officers at the present moment or likely to be in the near future?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)The average number of Royal Marine officers who entered the corps under the old scheme for the seven years prior to 1907 was twenty. No officers have entered since September, 1907, with the exception of three who were specially transferred from Sandhurst and Woolwich, two in 1910 and one in 1911. The present number of Marine officers is sufficient to meet the requirements of the Fleet, nor is any shortage anticipated in the near future. As already announced, a public examination will be held next month for the direct entry of fifteen Marine officers.