§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Regulation still holds good that men of long service are to be established before men of short service; and, if so, whether 1376W this rule is being carried out in respect to the recent Order for increasing establishment in the Royal yards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe primary consideration in selecting men for transfer to the established list in the Royal Dockyards is merit; but the Regulations require that regard should also be paid to relative length of service on the hired list. Other things being equal, therefore, a man of long service would obtain establishment before a man of short service. I have no reason to think that dockyard officers in selecting men for establishment in connection with the recent increase in the establishment of the Royal dockyards, have not given due weight to the factor of length of service.