§ 13. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether 1234 carpenters' crew ratings joining the Navy before last January did so on the promise of advancement in due course to the rating of shipwright; whether this privilege is continued to the carpenters' crew ratings under the new scheme; and, if not, what are the exceptional circumstances necessary to secure advancement to the rating of shipwright; how many men holding carpenters' crew rating, who have passed for shipwright, are still awaiting promotion to that rating; and what proportion does the number of men who have passed for shipwright bear to the proportion of men rated as carpenters' crew and leading carpenters' crew?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe carpenter ratings referred to are eligible for transfer to shipwright in vacancies at the discretion of the Admiralty. Under the new scheme transfers will be continued, but, as indicated in the White Paper on Navy Pay issued in December last, will be limited to special cases, the majority of vacancies being, of course, filled up by shipwrights trained in the dockyards. About 180 carpenter ratings have passed for shipwright. Orders were given on the 16th May for twenty-five of these to be advanced to shipwright forthwith, and for twenty-five more to the advanced on 30th June. About 25 per cent of the present carpenter ratings have passed for shipwright.