§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether ho will explain why Greenwich School boys are precluded from joining the Royal Navy as boy writers and ships' stewards' boys; 2110W and whether he is aware that most of these boys are sons of veterans who have given the best part of their lives to the State?
§ Mr. McKENNAIn reply to the first part of the question, the reason is that the ratings of Third Writers and Ships' Stewards are recruited by men entered by open competition. With regard to the second part, I am aware that Greenwich Hospital School boys are mostly the sons of naval ratings and marines of long service. These boys will continue to be entered in the seamen class as before; and I need not remind the noble Lord that this class affords the better opening for a good career in the Royal Navy.