HC Deb 27 February 1924 vol 170 cc450-1
35. Mr. GILBERT

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many boy artificers are appointed by the Navy annually; whether these boys are drawn from any particular class of school; whether any number is allocated to any towns or districts in the country: how many places are allotted to London; and if the education authority is invited to submit names for the vacancies?

Mr. HODGES

As the reply is somewhat long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The reply is as follows:

The number of artificer apprentices entered annually depends on requirements, which vary from time to time. 103 were entered from the two examinations held last year.

There are two examinations yearly:—

  1. (1) Open competition in April, conducted by the Civil Service Commission. Any boy within the prescribed limits of age may compete.
  2. (2) October examination for boys recommended by Educational Authorities throughout the United Kingdom. (This system has recently been extended to recommendations by Officers Commanding Territorial Cadet Units in the case of boys who, having left school, cannot obtain a recommendation from an Educational Authority.)
Candidates for the October examination are expected to have spent at least one year in a school providing education of a Secondary or Higher Grade Elementary type; but an Educational Authority may in special cases apply to the Admiralty for this condition to be waived.

Proportions of the vacancies are not allocated to any particular towns or districts.

Educational Authorities are not actually invited each year to submit names, but the system is well known throughout the country, and applications naturally emanate in the first place from the candidates themselves.