§ 19. Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) who would have been in the zone from which the selections for promotion to commander on 30th June will be made had not the lower limit been recently raised from two to three years; and whether the claims of these officers can be considered, as their length of service and age is much greater than that of he cadet-entry officers?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe answer to the first part of the question is 16. Special consideration is already given to lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) in making selections for promotion; all the ex-mate officers who have been promoted to commander have been so promoted soon after entering the zone, whereas only a small proportion of cadet-entry officers are promoted so early.
§ 20. Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of lieutenant-commanders and lieutenants (ex-mate) who have completed the naval staff course; who are now taking this course; and who are on the waiting list?
Mr. ALEXANDEROne commander (ex-mate) has completed the naval staff course, none is now taking the course, and two lieutenant-commanders and one commander (ex-mate) are noted as having applied for appointment to the staff course.
§ 21. Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether commanders and lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) are eligible to take the military and Air Force staff courses at the Camberley and Andover Colleges; and whether any of these officers have graduated there?
§ Sir B. FALLEWill the right hon. Gentleman assure me that special consideration to this particular class of mate by the Admiralty will be continued?