§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord whether Royal Marine clerks are permanently employed in the Royal Marine barracks and never go to sea; and whether he can see his way to allowing the soldier assistants of the Marine schoolmasters to be permanently employed instead of going to sea after holding their appointments for three years, looking to the fact that these men have an average of fifteen years' service, ten years of which is at sea, before being appointed?
§ Mr. McKENNANon-commissioned officers employed in the schools are all trained in naval gunnery, musketry, and infantry duties, and are available for duty with the Fleet when required. It is, therefore, necessary that they should not be kept too long on shore in the schools, but should take their turn at sea in order to maintain their efficiency as Marines.