§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the first Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty have published a memorandum asking for candidates as probationary second lieutenants for the Royal Marines; if so, whether he will state the number to be entered; whether the candidates will be examined by the Civil Service Commissioners; and what position officers so joined will hold with regard to Marine officers entered under the common entry system embodied in the Statement of Admiralty policy of December, 1905?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLRegulations as to supplementary first appointments in the Royal Marines have just been issued, and I shall be happy to send the Noble Lord a copy. As regards the second part of the question, the number of officers to be entered at the next examination has not yet been decided. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the fourth part, officers entered under these regulations will, after completing their training, be in the same position as Marine officers entered under the common entry system.
§ Lord C. BERESFORDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is intended to join the Marines on the old system altogether, or whether they are going to be joined half as probationary second lieutenants and half under the common entry system?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, the Admiralty are pursuing the system of common entry which has been established, but in supplement of that we find it necessary to make these special examinations for a certain number of Marine officers on account of the shortage.