§ 29. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any assistant paymasters, Royal Naval Reserve, direct from the shore, have been granted commissions and appointed to ships in charge of accounts; whether the experience of Royal Naval Reserve officers in naval work of this kind is comparable to the experience of writers in the Royal Navy; and will he say why vacancies for the officers' accountancy branch, Royal Navy, are not filled in the same way as other vacancies in the Royal Navy?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; but generally speaking, vacancies in the accountant branch of the Royal Navy have been filled from the Reserve of officers, as is done in all other branches. With regard to the rest of the question, the claims to advancement to chief writers will not be overlooked.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs there any truth in the statement that someone has been tried by court-martial and convicted?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have no knowledge. If the hon. Gentleman thinks it desirable to get any information on the point, he had better put down a question.