§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH - COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he was aware that the officers in the Royal Marines obtaining the new rank of gunnery sergeant-major were entitled to salutes, and that warrant officers in the Royal Marines, although under the same authority and holding the same office were not so entitled; and whether he could see his way to conceding the same privileges to warrant officers in the Royal Marines as were now enjoyed by officers holding the warrant rank of gunnery sergeant-major?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the latter part I cannot add anything to the reply I gave the hon. Gentleman on Monday last.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs it not a fact that these two ratings are on the same level?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo. The gunnery sergeant-major is a new rank. A gunner sergeant-major is practically all his time at sea, whereas the other warrant officers in the Marines are on shore.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEBut they rank the same.