HC Deb 30 January 1952 vol 495 cc37-9W
Mr. Callaghan

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the average age of promotion to commissioned officer, Branch List, from the lower deck.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

Thirty-two years five months.

Mr. Callaghan

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what proportion of Branch officers under the age of 35 have been regarded as outstanding and promoted to lieutenant, General List, in each year since 1945; and what is their average length of service as a Branch officer before promotion.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

I regret that information is not available to answer fully the first part of the Question. The number of Branch officers under 35 years of age, promoted each year to lieutenant on the General List and their average length of service on the Branch List, is as follows:

Year Number of Branch Officers under the age of 35 promoted to Lieutenant (General List) Average length of service as Branch Officer on promotion
Years Months
1945 … 46 4 5
1946 … 43 4 9
1947 … 31 4 6
1948 … 32 3 9
1949 … 19 3 10
1950 … 15 6 —
1951 … Nil* — —
* The absence of promotions in 1951 was due to the regulations being altered during that year to provide for Branch Officers selected for promotion to Lieutenant (General List) to be promoted on completion of the courses instead of before commencing them. Seventeen officers under 35 years of age were selected and if they complete the courses satisfactorily will then be promoted.

Mr. Callaghan

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the difference in duties between a sub-lieutenant on the General List, and a commissioned officer, Branch List.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

A General List officer is required to have an all-round professional knowledge of his branch and to be capable of filling advisory, administrative and similar appointments. A Branch List officer is required for professional and technical duties in the limited sphere in which he has had experience and for the supervision of ratings.

The sub-lieutenant carries out these General List duties at the level appropriate to his rank and at the same time is required to obtain experience and training to fit him for the higher ranks. The commissioned officer Branch List is employed on duties within his narrower sphere.