§ 29. Mr. Parkerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any difficulty is now being experienced in getting Mercantile Marine executive officers to transfer to the permanent naval service after 245 such officers have transferred; and whether a large number of executive commissions will this year be awarded to the lower deck, observing that last year's number was less than half the figure for 1913?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe details of the scheme for the transfer of further officers from the Mercantile Marine to the Royal Navy have not yet been made known but the Admiralty do not anticipate any difficulty in obtaining the numbers required for the present year, which will be about 50. It is hoped that the number of suitable candidates coming forward from the lower deck will render it possible to promote a larger number than last year.