HC Deb 24 February 1937 vol 320 cc1978-9
27. Mr. Parker

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the nature of the investigations into the reasons for the small number of ratings promoted to commissioned rank, the officials taking part in the investigation, and where the investigation is to be held; whether inquiries will be made into the capabilities of boys on leaving the shore-training establishments and the difficulties of continuous educational and professional training afloat; and whether evidence will be taken from the several candidates who have qualified in various parts of the examinations and yet been unable to attain commissioned rank?

Sir S. Hoare

Reports have been called for from the various commands and establishments. Until I have received them, I cannot say what further action may be necessary.

Mr. Paling

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, with reference to the answer which he gave a few minutes ago, whether he thinks it a satisfactory state of affairs that, while 44 passed the examination, only 13 got commissions, 17 had to wait so long that they were over age, and 14 do not know whether they are to get commissions or not?

Sir S. Hoare

I have informed more than one hon. Member that I am myself looking into the whole question of promotion from the lower deck. It is essential that I should have this information from the commands and establishments before I come to a decision.

Mr. Paling

Will the right hon. Gentleman mention that particular case, seeing that, of 44 who qualified, presumably after working very hard, 13 is a very small proportion to receive commissions?

Sir S. Hoare

The case is much more complicated than the hon. Member imagines. If he is interested I could send him other information on the subject, from which he will see that he cannot draw these conclusions from the figures.

28. Mr. Parker

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the numbers each year since the introduction of the new sublieutenant scheme of promotion in 1933 who have been reported on the special form from the shore-training establishments and from other establishments and ships is likely to make suitable commissioned officers; whether these forms are so confidential that the necessary officers do not see them; and why the number of ratings qualified professionally for sublieutenants cannot be obtained, observing that this only requires a signal to be made from the Admiralty to all commands, and that such a signal has been made on previous occasions for similar information?

Sir S. Hoare

As the answer to the first part of the question involves a table of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the last part of the question,

Numbers of confidential reports on ratings of the Seaman and Communications Branches in the years 1931–1937.
Year. Number started. Number terminated. Number of ratings concerned promoted. Number of reports continuing at end of year.
1931–32 … … 67 2 2 63
1933 … … 45 28 5 75
1934 … … 32 33 4 70
1935 … … 37 27 3 77
1936 … … 51 23 4 101
1937 (to date) … … 2 4 — 99