Mr. DUNCANasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that executive petty officers of the Portsmouth Port Division are being promoted to chief petty officer at seven and a half years' seniority as petty officer, whilst the executive petty officers at Chatham Port Division are being promoted at eleven and a half years' seniority; and whether he will inquire into this question with a view to equalising these promotions, so that the period of time served shall count equally and fairly to all concerned?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAOwing to variation of vacancies for chief petty officer, the time which petty officers have to serve for advancement rises and falls periodically at the three depots, but rights itself. At other times Chatham men have had the advantage. The conditions of service of these ratings have been and are now under consideration, and they have been improved recently by a decision which allows time over eight years served as petty officer to count as chief petty officer time for pension and towards increase of pay in the chief petty officer rating.