§ 28. Major HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the stagnation in promotion in the shipwright branch of the Loyal Navy and that there are men in this branch who have passed for the rating of chief shipwright for a period of from nine to 10 years, and who have 18 years' service as shipwrights; and whether he would be prepared to consider a scheme whereby shipwrights who have passed for chief shipwrights for a period of six years or over, and who are well advanced on the road to pension, shall be made chief shipwrights?
Mr. DAVIDSONI have no reason to think that the facts stated in the first part of the question are otherwise than correct, but the hon. Member will appre 1291 ciate that the Regulations provide for the advancement of shipwrights to the fourth, third, second and first classes, and that many of the most promising of the shipwrights are advanced direct to warrant and commissioned rank without becoming chief shipwright at all. I regret that the proposal contained in the last part of the question would not be practicable.