§ 62. Commander Nobleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why naval cadets who will now have an extra term at Dartmouth are to be penalised by the loss of three months basic seniority.
Mr. DugdaleThe date of a cadet's seniority as a Midshipman will necessarily be deferred under the new arrangements, but the practice does not differ from that adopted in the past, particularly during the war years, when increases or decreases were made in the length of a cadet's training. I would emphasise that when 976 the change is introduced, all cadets will be on exactly the same basis as regards deferment of seniority. It should be noted that the time spent in the rank of midshipman has been appreciably reduced in recent years.