Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that five sick-berth chief petty officers of the Portsmouth division have recently been discharged to pension, and that five sick-berth petty officers have been promoted to sick-berth chief petty officers without any junior ratings being promoted in proportion; and whether this means of reduction is being employed to bring the number of sick-berth petty officers down to the requirements of Portsmouth General Order No. 691, of 16th May, 1922?
§ Mr. AMERYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Junior ratings were not advanced in connection with these changes owing to the numbers of sick-berth petty officers and leading sick-berth attendants being in excess of the estimate numbers voted for the current financial year. The allusion to Portsmouth General Order C91 is not wholly clear, but it is anticipated that advancement of the lower ratings will be resumed next year.
Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the senior leading sick-berth attendants and sick-berth attendants at present awaiting promotion, and who would have been promoted had the promotions been conducted in the usual manner, have 12 years' service in the case of the leading sick-berth attendants and nine years' service in the case of the sick-berth attendants, and that these ratings must necessarily lose much 2291W pay and pension as a result; and what he proposes to do in the matter?
§ Mr. AMERYI presume the question refers to conditions obtaining in the Portsmouth Division. The five senior leading sick berth attendants on the Portsmouth roster are of seniority varying approximately 13¾ to 8½ years, but they have yet to pass their professional examination for advancement to sick berth petty officer. The five senior Portsmouth sick berth attendants on the roster have similarly not yet passed professionally for leading sick berth attendant. Their present seniority varies from 9.1 to 8¾ years. The Admiralty do not propose to adopt any special measures at this juncture, as the existing disadvantages attaching to promotion are not confined to the sick berth branch, being mainly due, in fact, to the rapid advancements obtaining during the War. Since then, however, the proportion of higher rates in the branch has been raised, and in the long run it is considered that the prospects of promotion are more favourable; moreover, any special steps taken now in the direction of accelerating advancement would eventually be to the detriment of the sick berth class as a whole.