§ Mr. Beaumontasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that while apprentices in certain trades who have completed four years in the dockyard schools are given the opportunity of special advancement in their respective branches, this privilege is not accorded to engine fitter apprentices; and whether he will consider restoring to them the opportunity of becoming engineer officers in the Royal Navy?
§ Colonel LlewellinSince the entry to the Dockyard and the Naval Mechanical Training Establishments takes place from a common examination list, those boys who desire to become Naval Officers can enter the Naval Mechanical Training Establishment from which promising candidates are selected twice a year for cadetships. Should they, however, decide to enter the dockyard as apprentices it is still open to them to enlist in the Navy as Engine Room Artificers with the object of getting direct promotion to Sub-Lieutenant (E) before the age of 24½ Failing this, the Engine Room Artificer may still reach commissioned rank through warrant rank. In view of the existence of these avenues of promotion, I do not think it necessary to introduce yet a further method of entry.