HC Deb 08 November 1916 vol 87 cc223-5W
Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether third writers have been entered for the period of hostilities from the same class of men as the temporary assistant paymasters; whether the third writers and temporary assistant paymasters have to pass any qualifying examination on entry, and their relative rank and rates of pay; and whether, in view of the decision of the Army Council that all applicants for commissions must pass through the ranks, the same procedure will be followed in meeting future requirements for temporary naval accountant officers instead of training these men after entry as commissioned officers as at present?

Dr. MACNAMARA

It is quite possible that some men entered as writers are drawn from the same class of men as temporary assistant paymasters. As regards the second part of the question, third writers have to pass a qualifying examination on entry, and, with the exception of a few officers entered from pursers for service in auxiliaries, and some entered for special service, temporary assistant paymasters pass a qualifying examination after going through a course of instruction. The rates of pay are:

  • Temporary assistant paymaster, Royal Naval Reserve, 10s. per day, plus 2s. per day messing allowance.
  • Temporary assistant paymasters, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 7s. 6d. per day.

Third writers, 2s. per day.

As regards the last part of the question, the requirements for assistant paymasters are now few, and, as a general rule, candidates are only being accepted who are unfit for general military service. There are still, however, candidates on the list whose names were placed on the list more than a year ago, and consideration is being given to their claims as vacancies arise.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

also asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of commissions as temporary assistant paymaster in the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, respectively, conferred on civilians with no previous experience since 1st January, 1916, and the number of these men who were fit for military service, the number of experienced and long-service naval writer ranks and ratings promoted to commissioned lank and warrant rank, respectively, since 1st January, 1916, and the number of chief writers, Royal Navy, with upwards of fifteen years' service now recommended for promotion by their superior officers?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The numbers of commissions as temporary assistant paymaster conferred on civilians with no previous experience since 1st January, 1916, are:

  • One hundred and twenty-five in Royal Naval Reserve.
  • Thirty-nine in Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
As the physical test standard for these officers is not so rigid as that required for general service in the Army, it is not possible to say how many are fit for general military service, but sixty-five have been pronounced definitely unfit or are over military age.

The numbers promoted in the writer branch since 1st January last are:

To commissioned warrant rank 2
To warrant rank 14
To temporary warrant rank 1
As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for North Kerry on the 20th July last.