§ 68. Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of lower-deck candidates in each branch who are now qualified educationally and professionally for sub-lieutenant, sub-lieutenant (E), and second-lieutenant Royal Marines; and the reasons why the numbers recently promoted have been the lowest in the 24 years of lower-deck promotion, observing that the number of direct-entry officers in the three branches have been greatly increased during the last few years?
Lord StanleyThe number of lower deck candidates who have qualified by examination for promotion to
The Admiralty have no knowledge how many of these are at present professionally qualified.
- Sub-Lieutenant is 69 (excluding the most recent examination, the results of which are not yet available).
- Sub-Lieutenant (E)—31.
- Second-Lieutenant, R.M.—3.
With regard to the latter part of the question, I would point out that the candidates for promotion. to the rank of acting sub-lieutenant during the last three years have been drawn from among the men who entered the Service during the years 1929–1931. During those years, the numbers of entries to the lower deck were at their lowest, and in each of those years the entries into the seaman branch were approximately only 30 per cent. of the number entered for that branch last year. Since 1931 the number of entries has considerably increased, and I hope that this increase in lower deck numbers will be reflected in the promotions from the lower deck in the future.