§ 16. Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of mates with seniority after 1st January, 1920, who, as the result of obtaining all first-class certificates, have been promoted to lieutenants in the minimum period allowed by the Regulations?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe number is one.
§ 17. Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many lieutenants promoted from mate have been selected to specialise in gunnery, torpedo, navigation, anti-submarine, signals, W/T, and the staff course, since the provisions of A.F.O. 1095/1926?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMNo officers promoted from mate have been selected to specialise in these subjects since the issue of Admiralty Fleet Order 1095/26.
§ Sir B. FALLECan the Parliamentary Secretary give any reason for that?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI can tell the hon. Member that two officers who were promoted from mate have been selected to specialise in submarines by 514 that Fleet Order, and one more officer will do so in the next course.
§ Commander BELLAIRSAre the Admiralty satisfied with these quite inadequate promotions from the lower deck?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI do not know that there is any reason for dissatisfaction. We are doing what we said we would do, and we are doing it as speedily as possible.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHADoes the Parliamentary Secretary say that there is-no reason for dissatisfaction in view of the fact that only one mate has been promoted to lieutenant in the last two years?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI have no reason to suppose that there is any dis-satisfaction.
§ 18. Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of lieu-tenant-conmanders and lieutenants promoted from the rank of mate; the number of mates there are now serving on the active list; and the number of these officers placed on the retired list during the year 1927?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe number of lieutenant-commanders and lieutenants who have been promoted from the rank of mate is 341, of whom 94 still remain on the active list. Twenty-one mates, of whom seven are acting mates, are now on the active list. Nineteen officers promoted from mate were placed on the retired list during the year 1927.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACan the Parliamentary Secretary say how many of these were war promotions?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMNot without notice.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes that not show that the system of promoting men from the lower deck to take commissions is gradually dying out?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMNo, Sir.