§ 3. Mr. HOGGEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of commissions as assistant paymaster, Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, granted during hostilities to civilians with no previous naval experience, and the number of long-service writer ranks and ratings to whom commissioned officer rank has been granted during the same period; the number and description of ratings of the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval 957 Volunteer Reserve who have received commissions as assistant paymasters, Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve; and the reason for the transfer of these men from duties in which they have been trained to commissioned rank in the accountant branch of the Navy, where further training is essential, and in which capacity they become of higher rank than all the long-service commissioned warrant writers, warrant writers, and writers, Royal Navy?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASeven hundred and eighty-two temporary commissions as assistant paymaster, Royal Naval Reserve, and 238 as assistant paymaster, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, have been granted during hostilities to civilians with no previous naval experience. The former number does not include commissions granted to the pursers in vessels taken up as fleet auxiliaries, etc., in the early stages of the War. My hon. Friend must not infer that these direct entries have no qualifications for the work they have to do in our Service. They were selected from bank clerks, chartered accountants, actuaries, and so on.
The number of long service writer ranks and ratings promoted to commissioned rank up to the present is six, but my hon. Friend will no doubt remember that the possibility of commissioned rank for the writer class dates only from the 14th April last. I ought to add that the rank of paymaster has been instituted for the writer branch, ten being allowed; and, further, the number of warrant writers has been increased from fifteen to fifty-one.
As regards the second part of the question, about ninety temporary commissions as assistant paymasters have been granted to ratings of the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunter Reserve class, including deckhands, Royal Naval Reserve; chief petty officers, petty officers, leading seamen, able seamen, ordinary seamen, signalmen, and writers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. These temporary commissions are granted to ratings in the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve only when it is considered likely, from their previous experience in civil life, that they would be able to carry out the duties satisfactorily.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes my right hon. Friend not see that there is a very potential ground of discontent when thousands of civilians from the outside get commis- 958 sions and only six of the men who have served and had experience inside get promoted?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is six in a short time.
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo; rather longer.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs it not the case that a great many people now holding commissions will be reverted back after the War 7 Many men during the War would be willing to accept those conditions, and why should not the men who have had experience in service not get a preference over those who have had no service
17. Mr. BUTLER LLOYDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention. has been called to the fact that a temporary lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, upon being promoted to temporary lieutenant-commander gets no increase in his pay until he has served eight years; is he aware that these officers,. upon promotion, are likely to be put into, more difficult positions, with more men under them, and are put to expense as regards uniform, etc., and that many of them have given up lucrative positions to join the Service; and will he take the necessary steps to obtain an immediate increase of pay to these officers upon promotion?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAA lieutenant in the Royal Navy has to serve eight years as lieutenant before he can be given the rank of lieutenant-commander. A temporary lieutenant R.N.V.R., however, has already this advantage that he is eligible for promotion to temporary lieutenant-commander, R.N.V.R., at an earlier date. Further, he receives an increase of pay after four years. It is probably true that many of them have given up lucrative positions to join the Service, but it is not considered necessary to increase the pay of these officers immediately upon promotion. I would remind my hon. Friend' that, as from the 1st October last, the pay of the lieutenant, R.N.V.R., on entry has, been raised from 1ls. to 12s. a day; after four years' combined service as lieutenant, R.N.V.R., and lieutenant-commander, R.N.V.R., from 12s. to 13s. 6d. a day; and: after eight years' combined service from, 13s. to 16s. a day.