§ 10. Mr. COCKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of lieutenant-commanders in the zone for promotion to commander on 30th June, 1932; the number of promotions to be made; the number of lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) in the zone; and how many of these latter officers have to be in the zone before two of them are selected for promotion half-yearly instead of one as heretofore?
Captain WALLACE478 lieutenant-commanders are in the zone for promotion. Twenty-five promotions are to be made. Forty-two lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) are in the promotion zone. Mates on promotion to the rank of lieutenant are absorbed into the general list of executive officers, and as such are considered for promotion entirely on their merits as compared with the other officers in the zone.
§ Rear-Admiral GORDON CAMPBELLIn order to facilitate the promotion of these young and promising officers, will the Admiralty reduce the length of time that senior officers can remain on the active list unemployed?
§ 11. Mr. COCKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of mates and mates (E), respectively, commissioned as such prior to the Armistice, and the number of these officers who have been promoted to commander and engineer commander, respectively, in each of the half-yearly lists since that time?
Captain WALLACEAs the reply contains a tabular statement, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. COCKSDo not the figures show that the proportion is four to one against the executive rank, and will the Admiralty do something to rectify this proportion?
§ Following is the answer:
§ 369 promotions to the rank of acting mate and 153 to acting mate (E) were made up to the date of the Armistice. The following promotions from ex-mates and ex-mates (E) to commander and engineer commander respectively have been made since 1918:
| Commander. | Engineer Commander. | ||
| 1918— | December to 1926 June inclusive | Nil | Nil |
| 1926— | December | 1 | — |
| 1927— | June | — | — |
| December | — | 3 | |
| 1928— | June | — | 2 |
| December | 1 | 4 | |
| 1929— | June | 1 | 3 |
| December | 1 | 4 | |
| 1930— | June | 1 | 4 |
| December | 1 | 4 | |
| 1931— | June | 1 | 4 |
| December | 1 | 4 |
§ 12. Mr. COCKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in making the selections for promotion to commander, he will take into account the fact that lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) have served for some years as ratings and petty officers and, in some cases, warrant officers, before receiving commissions, and that, as they have not been permitted to specialise, they have spent, in comparison 1084 with ex-cadets, a greater proportion of their careers at sea?
Captain WALLACEAll lieutenant-commanders are selected for promotion solely on their merits, and their records of service are carefully considered before selection is made.