§ 3. Mr. Willisasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the percentage of chief petty officers with nine years' seniority to other ranks in the Royal Navy.
Mr. WardThe percentage of chief petty officers with nine or more years' service as such, to the total number of male ratings in the Royal Navy is at present 2.9.
§ Mr. WillisIn view of the fact that the figure is only 2.9 per cent., and as the hon. Gentleman, in reply to a Question by me on 9th May, gave the fact that only 3 per cent. were warrant officers in the Army as the reason he could not give chief petty officers in the Navy the same status and pay as warrant officers in the Army, will the hon. Gentleman look at the matter again?
Mr. WardOn that occasion I was talking about all chief petty officers, not only those with nine years or more in the rank. That is what makes the figure different. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the pay codes are not the same at every point. If one concentrates on any particular point in a man's career one has to look at the swings as well as the round-abouts. Taking the career of a chief petty officer as a whole, I am satisfied that those in that rank compare very favourably with their opposite numbers in the other Services.
§ Mr. WillisWill not the hon. Gentleman look at the matter again and give the chief petty officer with nine years' service what I asked for before, the pay of the warrant officer in the Army?
Mr. WardMay I suggest this? As the hon. Gentleman knows, this is a very complicated matter. If he would like to go over all the figures with me, I shall he very glad to do so, and I think that I can satisfy him on the point.