§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that only one examination for promotion has been held in His Majesty's dockyards since 1914, in order to maintain the highest efficiency and encourage employés in the dockyard service, he will consider reverting to the system which prevailed before the War of holding regular examinations, annual or at least triennial, for promotion to the rank of draughtsmen, inspectors, foremen. etc.?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThese examinations are held as considered necessary by the Admiralty, having regard to the extent to which the current examination list has been used and the number of vacancies forthcoming in the next two or three years. It has not been the practice to hold them at regular intervals, and owing to the uneven occurrence of vacancies it is not necessary or desirable to do so. The question of holding new examinations is at present under consideration.