HC Deb 23 October 1946 vol 427 cc1649-51
34. Major Bruce

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will give information about the formation of an electrical branch in the R.N.; and the proposed method of recruitment of its officers and ratings.

net weekly incomes of retired married ex-chief petty officers, seamen's branch, who are in receipt of their naval pensions and old age pensions after income tax has been deducted; and how these figures compare with the equivalent figures for retired leading seamen and able seamen in the same category and under the same conditions.

Mr. Dugdale

As the reply contains a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the table:

The rates of pension payable will depend on length of service and rate of advancement. Assuming in all cases an average rate of advancement, the comparative figures would be:

Mr. Dugdale

Yes, Sir. The unprecedented growth of electrical equipment in His Majesty's ships arising out of development during the war has necessitated the formation of a new Electrical Branch in the Royal Navy which will be known as the "L" Branch. I am arranging for details of the scheme to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT of today's proceedings.

Major Bruce

What facilities will exist for promotion from the lower deck in connection with the establishment of this new branch?

Mr. Dugdale

I suggest that my hon. and gallant Friend awaits the publication in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Cobb

Will this new branch include radio and its allied services?

Mr. Dugdale

I think it would be much better if hon. Members would read all these details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the details:

The Electrical Branch will be responsible for all electrical engineering duties in the Fleet, and will be concerned with all aspects of naval electrical and radio engineering, including maintenance, research, development and design of new equipment.

The immediate requirements for officers have been met by the transfer of suitable officers from other branches and from qualified temporary officers. Future recruitment of officers for the branch will in the main be from young men between the ages of 17 and 19 on 1st September each year, who have obtained a higher school certificate of one of the recognised university examination boards with mathematics and physics as main subjects. Selected candidates would undergo a year's training as naval cadets (L), followed by three years advance technical training to honours degree standard. For the present, this will be at Cambridge University. This will be followed by a further two years naval training, and training at commercial electrical engineering works. Full details of the cadet entry are being circulated to schools.

Ratings will join the Navy through the recruiting offices and will then be selected for the new branch and trained in the Service with similar conditions of advancement to other branches. They will normally be specialised in either electrics or radio. The artificers of the branch will be entered as heretofore, and a proportion will specialise in radio work. Opportunities will be provided for ratings to attain commissioned rank in the branch. An avenue to commissioned rank will also be provided for selected naval artificers and dockyard apprentices.