HC Deb 16 December 1925 vol 189 cc1392-3
21. Mr. BASIL PETO

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that the Fleet Order, issued on 21st November, deprives engineer officers of military status as part of the combatant personnel of the Fleet and that, as they are in control of approximately 40 per cent. of the ship's company, it is essential that they should have military status and not be regarded as non-combatants, he will consider whether, if the wearing of distinctive stripes, as worn by the medical, accountant find other non-combatant branches, gives rise to the belief that engineers are to be similarly regarded as non-combatant, the alteration of the uniform of executive officers by the addition of similar distinctive stripes would be advisable?

Mr. DAVIDSON

I am unable to accept my hon. Friend's argument, which is based on an erroneous use of terms. Every officer of the Royal Navy has a military status, and all officers of the Royal Navy, except medical officers and chaplains, are combatant officers. The Fleet Order has made no change in the position of engineer officers in these respects, nor in the command which the engineer officer has over his subordinates appointed or detailed for duty in his department or placed under his orders. The distinction in uniform is, as my right hon. Friend explained in reply to a previous question, purely a matter of practical convenience, and does not imply inferiority in any shape or form.

Mr. PETO

If it be necessary to differentiate in the uniform of these officers who specialise in engineering, why is it not necessary to have a differentiation in the uniform of those officers who specialise in other branches such as gunnery, submarines, navigation, physical training, and other such services?

Vice-Admiral Sir REGINALD HALL

Is it not a fact that these officers have a distinctive uniform?

Mr. DAVIDSON

That is so. In answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnstaple (Mr. B. Peto), the number of officers in the engineering branch cannot be compared with the number in special branches.

Brigadier-General CHARTERIS

Does the hon. Gentleman anticipate that this order will affect adversely the number of cadets who volunteer for engineering?

Mr. DAVIDSON

I do not think so.