§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why, if the establishment of 10 paymaster 850W lieutenants promoted from commissioned warrant writers and 100 commissioned and warrant writers, that is, 20 commissioned writers and 80 warrant writers, was a maximum provisional establishment to meet war requirements, and is not the fixed establishment for post-War purposes, five warrant writers were promoted to commissioned writer this month, making the number of commissioned writers borne on the list 20, which is stated to be a maximum provisional establishment to meet war requirements?
§ Mr. AMERYThe promotions were made in accordance with the arrangements laid down in Admiralty Monthly Order 3018a of 1918, to provide for promotion to commissioned rank during the period before the 10-year rule becomes operative. Until the post-War establishment of accountant officers, including warrant writers and officers promoted therefrom, has been definitely fixed, it is not possible to say what the numbers in the various ranks should be. In these circumstances the Admiralty considered that it would be equitable to the Writer Branch to adhere for the present to the arrangements for the provisional establishment of commissioned writers and paymaster lieutenants promoted from that rank, laid down in the Order quoted, rather than to make any immediate change in the numbers allowed. These numbers will, of course, be liable to revision when the post-War complements are fixed.