§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state, as the result of the new scheme of training naval officers published in 1902, under which Osborne was established as a naval training school for the executive, Marine, and engineering branches, how many engineering officers have been produced after twelve years who were trained under this scheme at Osborne?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe answer is thirty-eight. It should, however, be mentioned that the first officers of the common entry scheme only became eligible to specialise in engineering in October, 1913.
§ Commander BELLAIRSalso asked the First Lord of the Admiralty for what space of time there were no entries of officers directly as Royal Marine officers as was the case prior to the new scheme of training published in 1902; and, in view of the abandonment of the Osborne scheme so far as the Royal Marines are concerned and the reversion to the old method, whether he can state how many, if any, of the officers of the Royal Marines were trained at Osborne?
§ Dr. MACNAMARADirect entries in the Royal Marines ceased after 1907 and were not resumed until 1912. Two officers entered under the common entry system are now serving in the Royal Marines. As regards the suggestion that the common entry system has been abandoned so far as the Royal Marines are concerned, I would point out that officers are still eligible to transfer from sub-lieutenant to the Royal Marines.