§ 56. Sir Robert Youngasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the requirements as regards sea and other service and seniority for the promotion of engineer commanders to engineer captains; the number of engineer commanders commissioned from artificers who have these requirements; whether the Admiralty intend to promote any of these engineer commanders, and, if so, when, seeing that two seaman-entry captains have been promoted; and that in the near future a number of the engineer commanders commissioned from artificers will be retired due to reaching the age limit?
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Lord Stanley)Promotion to the rank of engineer captain and captain (E) is made by selection from engineer commanders and commanders (E) of between eight and 12 years' seniority who have served five years on full pay in those ranks or that of lieutenant-commander, including two years in charge of engines of sea-going ships other than small craft. One of these years must be in the rank of commander. Three engineer commanders, commissioned from artificers, have these qualifications and are among the most junior of the officers qualified. Future selections for promotion will be made each half-year according to the ability of the individual officers irrespective of their method of entry.