§ 16. Mr. THOMAS LEWISasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the details of the several fluctuations, up and down, of the zone for promotion to commander in the last five years and the reasons for them; and whether he will reconsider the question of the lower limit for the promotion to commander, seeing that the limit is now three years and, as the seniority of lieutenant-commanders (ex-mates) on promotion is also approximately three years, they are only able to get one half-yearly recommendation forwarded after entering the zone, whereas, when the zone was two years, up to June, 1929, they could get three recommendations prior to promotion?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. A. V. Alexander)Up to June, 1925, the zone of promotion was 3–6i years. The Admiralty then considered it necessary to reduce the limits in order to allow of officers being promoted at a younger age. The limits were therefore reduced in three stages until they stood in December, 1926 at 2–6 years. In 1929 the 836 Admiralty decided to raise the age again owing to the very large number of officers who were then coming into the zone who had received early promotion to lieutenant during the War. The limits were therefore raised to 2½—6½ years in December, 1929, and to 3–7 years in June, 1930. I am unable to understand the purport of the last part of the question. The zone of promotion has not been reduced in extent and officers are eligible for promotion throughout the period they remain within the zone. As my hon. Friend is aware, the whole question of the promotion of mates is being examined by a committee.
§ 17. Mr. LEWISasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the average age of the lieutenant-commanders (ex-cadets) promoted to commanders during the last five years; and the number and ages of the lieutenant-commanders (ex-mates) in the zone for promotion to commander on 31st December next?
§ Mr. ALEXANDERThe average age of lieutenant-commanders (ex-cadet) on promotion to commander during the last live years was 35 years 4 months. The mean age of lieutenant-commanders (ex-cadet) who are in the zone for promotion is rather higher, say, just over 36. Twenty-five lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) will be in the promotion zone on the 31st December next. Their ages on that date range from 41 years 11 months to 36 years 5 months, the average being 40 years 3½ months.