HC Deb 11 March 1953 vol 512 cc1260-2
9. Mr. A. Roberts

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to particularise in detail the qualifications required of those who form the special Admiralty interview boards which enable them to assess whether candidates are likely to make satisfactory naval officers.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

In the first place, the members of these boards must have an intimate knowledge of those personal characteristics which are essential in any naval officer, in whatever branch OE specialisation he may be required to serve. Secondly, there must be on the board a member, or members, who have a more detailed knowledge of the work of the special branch in which the men are candidates for commissions. These members must be capable of recognising potential ability as well as any skills or positive characteristics which the candidates may have at the time of interview. This last qualification is directly related to the ability to recognise in the candidates those who are capable of absorbing instruction and benefiting from it to the full. For this reason instructor officers with academic, as well as naval, qualifications also serve on the boards.

Mr. Roberts

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that two youths from my constituency who got 82 per cent. and 70 per cent. marks in their written examination were brought before a board for interview for a few minutes and were turned down; and is he also aware that when I asked for one of these youths to be transferred to the Air Force I received a reply from the Admiralty that this youth was making good progress, and they could not agree to his being transferred to the Air Force?

Mr. Thomas

The hon. Gentleman talks of two cases. I know of one case of a constituent of his who has a knowledge of Russian, and who, as a coder, is carrying on, I understand, with his studies. I would point out that, however good the marks in written examinations may be—and I am sure that both the men the hon. Gentleman mentioned are thoroughly good chaps—they do not necessarily mean that the men would have the necessary qualities which the interviewing board would want them to have to pass them at that stage.

Dr. King

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the social origin of candidates has nothing to do with their selection; and would he not agree that to put this matter beyond all doubt, the selection board itself ought to be drawn from all sections of the community?

Mr. Thomas

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the social background of the candidates concerned has nothing whatever to do with it, as I think the latest figures in another sphere—at Dartmouth—definitely show. The board have to consider academic as well as naval qualifications. I really do not know the social background of these men. For all I know, it may be a very wide one.

Mr. Bellenger

Is it not putting the cart somewhat before the horse to have oral examinations after all the effort of written examinations? Why not interview candidates first and then let them do their written examinations?

Mr. Thomas

I think that is an entirely different question from the one on the Order Paper.

Mr. W. R. Williams

If what my hon. Friend says is correct, and these boys were at the interview for only two minutes, may I ask how can any board interview and assess people in two minutes? Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries into that aspect? I cannot accept that anybody can assess the character or the potentialities of boys in two minutes.

Mr. Thomas

I should be grateful to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. A. Roberts) if he would check that information. I find it very hard to believe that a strong, numerous board like this would give only a two minutes' interview to a candidate.

Mr. Roberts

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a letter he made a statement to the effect that this youth was making good progress, whereas on the other hand he says the youth is not suitable material?

Mr. Thomas

What I said was that he is making good progress as a coder: not as an officer, but as coder.