§ Sir A. SHIRLEY BENNasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Royal Marine gunners are eligible for promotion to the rank of quartermaster; and, if not, whether there will be the same percentage of openings to commissioned rank for Royal Marine gunners as there are for the other warrant officers of the corps?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt has not hitherto been the practice to select Royal Marine gunners for the rank of quartermaster. This rank was first instituted in 1910, and only the younger non-commissioned 569W officers were selected. They received a special and lengthy training to fit them for certain, specialised duties afloat, and it is considered that the sea service should have the full advantage of this training for the present. Royal Marine gunners have the same percentage of openings as other warrant officers of the corps. A much higher percentage of Royal Marine gunners than other Royal Marine warrant and non-commissioned officers have received permanent commissions during the War; and, in addition, they are promoted to commissioned warrant rank under the same conditions as naval warrant officers, and a percentage of those so promoted can attain the rank of captain and major.