§ Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the numbers of each grade of sick-berth ratings and the total, the number of warrant ward - masters, commissioned ward-masters and ward-master lieutenants, and the ages at which warrant, commissioned warrant, and lieutenant's rank is reached; and whether it is intended to increase the number of promotions in this branch as in other branches of warrant rank?
Mr. CooperThe following were the numbers at a recent date:
125 Sick-berth chief petty officers.
253 Sick-berth petty officers.
287 Leading sick-berth attendants.
546W475 Sick-berth attendants.
143 Probationer sick-berth attendants.
Total number of sick-berth ratings— 1283.
14 Warrant ward-masters.
4 Commissioned ward-masters.
1 Ward-master lieutenant.
The average ages on promotion to these ranks are 39–40, 46–47, 49–50 respectively.
The numbers of promotions to warrant rank is determined by the requirements of the service in each branch. The position in the sick-berth branch has been recently reviewed, but it has been decided that an increase in the establishment cannot at present be justified.
§ Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether difficulty has been experienced in recruiting sick-berth ratings; whether the standard for recruits has been reduced and, if so, in what manner; whether these ratings get the same leave arrangements as others and have the same educational facilities in hospitals as in the naval barracks; and whether he will consider appointing a committee to investigate the conditions of service in the sick-berth branch, as has been done in several other branches in recent years, with a view to improving them?
Mr. CooperOwing to the large increase recently approved in the staffs of the hospitals, some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining the requisite number of entries in the sick-berth branch during the past year, but this is being overcome and there has been a substantial increase in the number of recruits during the last quarter. To meet the difficulty, slight temporary reductions have been made in the educational and dental standards. Sick-berth ratings are given the same leave and education courses as other naval ratings, though at times when the incidence of sickness is heavy these may have to be temporarily curtailed. They have, however, a greater proportion of home service and greater opportunities for increasing their professional knowledge than ratings in other branches.
I do not consider the appointment of a special committee to consider conditions in this branch to be necessary.