§ 17. Sir Robert Youngasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether engine-room artificers are now urgently needed for His Majesty's Navy; whether engine-room artificers now have a chance to rise to posts worth £1,000 a year; and, if so, 387 will he state what these posts are and how many engine-room artificers, fourth-class, have occupied these posts during the past five years?
§ Sir James Blindell (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. The answers to the first two parts of the hon. Member's question are in the affirmative. With regard to the third part, my right hon. Friend finds that among those officers of the engineering branch who have during the last five years held posts worth £1,000 a year, which are generally shore appointments for senior engineer commanders, there are 13 who have risen from the rating of engine-room artificer, fourth class.