§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, whether the percentage of continuous service engine-room artificers has been increased since 1st May, 1916; whether it is the custom or practice to differentiate in different ports in the length of service necessary before a continuous service engine-room artificer can be promoted to chief engine-room artificer; if so, will he do his best, after inquiry, to abolish such differentiation; and can he state whether the promotion of temporary engine-room artificers and Royal Naval Reserve engine-room artificers to the chief rating has retarded the progress of the continuous service engine-room artificers to the above rating?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe percentage of advancement of long-service engine-room artificers to chief engine-room artificers for the period 1st May, 1916, to 31st October, 1916, was approximately at the rate of 4.8 per annum. As regards the second part of the question, the qualifications for advancement are the same for all engine-room artificers, and at all the ports the men are advanced by port roster, but the practical working of the method varies somewhat at the different ports. Proposals to remedy this were under consideration, but had to be postponed owing to the outbreak of war, and existing conditions do not admit of the matter 1433W being proceeded with at present. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.