§ 14. Commander Purseyasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of naval cadets he intends to enter this year, under the 13 and 17 to 18 age schemes, respectively; and the number of commissions he expects to award to ratings, in the executive and engineering branches.
§ Mr. AlexanderThe present intention is to enter 135 cadets at.13 years of age, and about 100 at 17–18 years of age. The subject of the second part of the Question is at present under review. I am not, therefore, in a position to give the numbers.
§ Commander PurseyIs it not high time that there was a far greater measure of democratisation in the Navy?
§ Mr. AlexanderDemocratisation is a matter which can be expressed in two or three different ways. It can be expressed 1900 by broadening the educational field of entry within our community, or it can be expressed by not having any entrants to these Services except through the ranks. All that is under review.