§ Lord C. BERESFORDasked the first Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether the Admiralty will give equal opportunities to the writer branch to gain commissioned rank as is now given to the military and engineering branches of the Navy and thus bring into effect his promise that merit on the lower deck will be rewarded; (2) whether the procedure followed in promoting artificer engineers and warrant telegraphists after five years' service to commissioned warrant rank may be extended to warrant writers, seeing the advanced age at which they are promoted; and (3) whether he will consider the advisability of promoting a number of experienced and qualified writers to warrant and commissioned rank; whether he is aware that the system now adopted for filling the posts of accountant officers, Royal Navy, by the entry of pursers and assistant pursers from the mercantile marine and civilian clerks has caused dissatisfaction amongst the writers whose qualifications for naval accountant duties have constantly been brought before the Admiralty; and whether these officers who by virtue of their commission should be capable of supervising the duties of an office are in most cases instructed by the writers?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs I stated in reply to the Noble Lord on 25th November last, the question of providing the necessary number of officers for the Accountant Branch was under consideration of the Admiralty when the War broke out; but this question, in common with others, had to be deferred. As the Noble Lord is aware, twelve chief writers have since been promoted to warrant rank. Whilst I can give no undertaking as to further promotion, and whilst particular questions of this kind cannot be dissociated from consideration of the general question, for dealing with which the present juncture is scarcely opportune, the matter will not be lost sight of.
§ Lord C. BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that several of the twelve warrant writers promoted in December last are now receiving 1s. 6d. a day less in pay and allowances than they received as chief writers prior to promotion; what steps it is proposed to take to remedy this state of affairs; and why, in view of the shortage of accountant officers, as shown by the number of entries of assistant paymasters, 728W Royal Naval Reserve, warrant writers, are not appointed to and utilised in the Fleet as officers instead of being reappointed to the same duties as they carried out prior to their promotion?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs regards the first and second parts of the question, I presume that the Noble Lord alludes to the loss of separation allowance, which ceased on promotion to warrant rank. This matter is under consideration, and I hope soon to make a definite statement about it. As regards the last part of the question: warrant officers are appointed to posts where, in the opinion of the Admiralty, they can be most usefully employed. It has not hitherto been the practice to appoint them to seagoing ships, and it is hardly the time at present to make this change, though the whole question of their employment will be thoroughly reconsidered in connection with the report on the conditions of employment of accountant officers.