§ Sir JOHN JARDINEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, as regards appointments in the Royal Navy as boy artificer by the recommendation of educational authorities of towns and districts, whether such recommendation would be received from a secondary school at Hawick or from any other educational authority in the county of Roxburgh; if not, whether the school at Berwick-upon-Tweed has a more favourable position; and on what principle are schools classified for the purpose of such recommendations?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere is no classification of schools for the purpose of such recommendations. The recommendations are made by local educational authorities, generally those of large towns or industrial districts, which are selected as those most likely to supply suitable candidates. Any application from educational authorities of the county of Roxburgh to be placed on the list of educational authorities entitled to nominate candidates for entry as boy artificers will receive consideration; but as the number of nominees is limited by requirements and there is already a large list of educational authorities authorised to nominate, I regret that I can hold out no promise that the request will be acceded to. The reply to the second part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative.