§ Mr. BARNESasked the number of promotions during the current year of men belonging to the engine-room artificers, up to and including the rank of lieutenant?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe number of promotions, from 1st March, 1910, to 1st March, 513W 1911, of men belonging to the engine-room artificers, up to and including the rank of engineer lieutenant, is as follows:—
To Acting Artificer Engineer … 64 To Chief Artificer Engineer … 11 To Engineer Lieutenant … 3
§ Mr. BARNESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will revise the scale of pay of the engine-room artificers, in accordance with the increased cost of living and higher rates in civil life since the last rates were made many years ago?
§ Mr. McKENNAThis question has received full consideration. The engine-room artificers are the best paid of any class of naval rating, and although it is true that the actual rates of pay for engine-room artificers have not been increased since 1882, the introduction of the warrant rank of artificer engineer in 1897, of the commissioned warrant rank of chief artificer engineer in 1903, and of advancement to the rank of engineer lieutenant in 1904, have immensely improved the prospects of the class as a whole.