§ 22. Mr. THOMAS LEWISasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to report on the result of the consideration given by his Department to the subject of promotions from the lower deck?
Mr. ALEXANDERI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of the 30th January (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 1193) to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha).
Mr. ALEXANDERI will read the reply to which I have referred:
The matter continues to engage the attention of the Admiralty, but it is obviously impossible to proceed actively with this and kindred questions until the result of the Naval Conference and its effect on personnel is known.
§ 31. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, see-that only five lower-deck ratings were promoted to the rank of mate in 1929 as against eight in 1928, seven in 1927, and nine in 1926, he can state any reasons for the falling off in the numbers qualifying for promotion to mate?
Mr. ALEXANDERI am not aware of any reason which can definitely be given for the falling off, but with the small number of candidates, the number promoted from year to year may be expected to fluctuate. The numbers in 1929 were about the average for the five years previous to 1926.