HC Deb 27 January 1937 vol 319 cc954-5W
Mr. Parker

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of promotions made to gunner, gunner (T), and boatswain on 1st January, 1936, the number made on 1st January this year, and what the number should have been if there were sufficient fully-qualified candidates; and whether, in view of the shortage of candidates for executive warrant officers, he will consider appointing a committee on the lines of the Hyde-Parker Committee of 1918 fully to investigate the conditions of service, emoluments, and disabilities of executive warrant officers?

Lord Stanley

Six promotions to gunner, four to gunner (T), and 10 to boatswain were made on 1st January, 1936, and eight promotions to gunner on the 1st January, 1937. Twenty promotions to gunner, 37 to gunner (T), and 14 to boatswain would have been made on the 1st January, 1937, had those numbers of qualified candidates been available. The Admiralty is at present considering the recommendations of a committee appointed to enquire into the reasons for the present shortage in these three classes of warrant officer, and to report what steps should be taken to remedy the deficiency. I hope that a decision will be reached in the near future.

Mr. W. H. Green

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reasons why the number of warrant officers from the lower deck in the executive branch have been cut down to approximately one-half of the 1914 figures, whereas the total of cadet-entry executive officers, from captain to sub-lieutenant, is now practically the same as in 1914?

Lord Stanley

The reduction to which the hon. Member refers is due to a variety of causes connected with the requirements of the Service into which it would be difficult to enter within the scope of a question and answer. I may, however, mention in particular, first, the greater complexity of modern warships, and especially the development of the Fleet Air Arm, which necessitates a higher proportion of commissioned officers than obtained before the Great War, and secondly the fact that an examination of the duties of warrant officers undertaken some 10 years ago showed that a number of duties in which they were employed did not require the services of an officer. A substantial reduction in the requirements of warrant officers necessarily followed. I might add that at present, exclusive of the Fleet Air Arm, the requirements of warrant officers are increasing proportionately on a level with those of commissioned officers.