§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that when two ships' stewards' assistants belonging to the Chatham division were promoted to ships' stewards on 11th March last there were at Portsmouth twenty-eight assistants senior to one and thirty-two senior to the other, and at Devonport eighteen senior to one and twenty-two senior to the other; and whether he can see his way to introducing a general roster for all men of this rating?
§ Mr. McKENNAI would refer the Noble and Gallant Lord to the answer I gave to a similar question on 31st March last. With regard to the individual cases referred to, advancement is made at each port division from the men belonging to that port division, and is not necessarily by seniority alone, the commodores of the depots being responsible under the regulations for the selection of the men in their respective port divisions, who are best entitled by character, ability, and service.