§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many officers of the Navy have been sent, or are being sent, to a course at Cambridge; whether, at the end of that course, they are to be put through a stiff examination; and whether officers, who after three or four years of service have naturally forgotten part of their early education, are to be dismissed if they fail to pass the examination?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAFour hundred officers were appointed for a six months' course at Cambridge at the end of January, and a further number will be appointed to courses there later on if suitable arrangements can be made. The courses are intended to complete the education of those officers whose education as cadets was interrupted by the War. The officers will be put through an examination at the end of their course, but a reasonable standard will be adopted, regard being paid to all the circumstances. Officers who do well in this examination will be allowed marks counting towards acceleration of the date of their promotion to lieutenant. There is no intention of dis-238W missing officers who fail in the examination after this course, but the results will be considered in conjunction with the results of the further examinations in professional subjects which they will be called upon to take after courses in those subjects at the naval schools.