§ Mr. BARNESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the pay of stokers, shipwrights, cooks, sailmakers, and engine-room artificers, was last revised; when the rating of stoker-mechanic was instituted, when was it abolished, and for what reason; and how many stokers were eligible for the rating of stoker rating at the time of its abolition, and how many stokers held the rating at the time?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe pay of the shipwrights was revised in 1877, that of the cooks in 1908, that of the sailmakers in 1879, and that of the engine-room artificers in 1882. The non-substantive rate of stoker-mechanic was instituted in 1871, and abolished in 1906, when the old rating of leading stoker, second class, was also abolished. A new rating of leading stoker was, however, introduced with substantive pay equal to that of the stoker, first class, who had held the stoker mechanic rate, with its allowance of 3d. a day, and the trained man rate, with its allowance of 1d. a day, it being considered preferable to embody these allowances in the substantive pay. Any stoker was eligible to qualify for the rating of stoker-mechanic, and in 1906 about half the total number held it.