§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the members of the engine-room artificer and engineer artificer classes who appeared before the Jerram Committee asked for improved status, namely, to be called assistant engineers and engineers, etc., and with the provision of an engineers' and electrical 215W engineers mess, and to be put socially on a par with the engineers in the Mercantile Marine, as they perform in their respective spheres exactly the same duties?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes, Sir. The Jerram Committee, however, did not consider that the position of these ratings in the Royal Navy should be that of officers, and could not therefore recommend the requests being granted.
§ Mr. YOUNGasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the members of the engine-room artificer and electrical artificer classes who appeared before the Jerram Committee referred to or advocated the claims of the boy artificers now being trained in His Majesty's Ships "Fisgard" and "Indus"; and whether these boy artificers asked for improved status, pay, and conditions of service, and to be brought into line with the duties which will devolve upon them when doing duty at sea?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes, Sir; except that no mention was made as to boy artificers being brought into line with the duties devolving on them when at sea. The pay of these ratings has been raised in accordance with the Committee's recommendations. I may add that a proposal to alter the title "Boy Artificer" is now under consideration.
§ Mr. YOUNGasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the members of the engine-room artificer and electrical artificer classes who appeared before the Jerram Committee asked for the rates of pay for the whole of the classes to be upon the basis of that laid down for engineers in the merchant service by the National Maritime Board?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes, Sir. The Jerram Committee, however, did not consider that a case had been made out for the increase asked for.