§ 20. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the number of candidates who presented themselves for direct entry into His Majesty's Navy as electrical artificers during the last financial year, the number rejected on medical grounds, the number rejected on account of failure to pass trade test, and the number actually entered?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAM256 candidates presented themselves, of whom 135 were rejected medically and 44 failed the trade test; 77 being finally entered. In addition to these numbers, however, other candidates presented themselves but were rejected at Recruiting Offices as 1246 educationally unfit, or as suffering from some obvious defect. Records of these are not available.
§ 21. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when it is the intention of the Admiralty to put into operation the provisions contained in an Order in Council, dated 7th November, 1921, which institutes two branches to supersede the existing electrical artificer branch; how will this affect the promotion and advancement of the present officers and ratings; whether any increase in personnel is anticipated; and whether it is intended that ultimately the engineering officers will take over the electrical section of the torpedo schools?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI regret that I am not in a position to make a statement on this matter, which is still under consideration.