§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the desire of the Board to give a fair share of promotions to commissioned ranks to men who have risen from the lower deck, whether the Board will take into consideration the promotion to engineer- 27W lieutenants of selected chief artificer engineers and artificer engineers who, in many cases, have been performing duties formerly done by engineer-lieutenants, having regard to the fact that only seven such promotions to engineer-lieutenants have taken place for meritorious service since the War commenced?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThis is a question which has already occupied the attention of the Board of Admiralty, and quite recently authority was obtained for an increase in the number of officers of lieutenant's rank in all branches promoted from commissioned warrant officers and warrant officers from 100 to 150. Chief artificer engineers and artificer engineers were given their proper proportion of the additional lieutenants thus made. I should add that promotions for gallantry in action can be made, in addition to the numbers referred to in the foregoing statement. Eight special promotions of chief artificer engineers to engineer-lieutenant for meritorious service have been made since the outbreak of war.
§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the beneficial effect increased prospects of promotion have on recruiting for the skilled engine-room artificer branch, whether the Board will take into consideration that 129 engineer lieutenants and forty-three engineer sub-lieutenants have been entered directly into the Navy for temporary service during the War; and whether the Board will now close that avenue of entry and fill vacancies by men who have experience of naval work by promoting chief artificer engineers and artificer engineers?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend will not be lost sight of, but it is impossible to give any assurance that further entries of engineer officers from the shore for temporary service during hostilities will not be required.