§ Mr. CROOKSasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that numbers of temporary clerks employed at the Admiralty and dockyards have received acting appointments, he can state why none of the Admiralty clerical staff at the Naval Store Depot, West India Docks, have been so promoted, although many of them are engaged on important duties, and certain names were submitted to the Admiralty for promotion in September last?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAActing appointments are determined by local needs, and vary according to the numbers of experienced staff available for the work and its amount. West India Docks is mainly a shipping depot, and the work is not of such a complex nature as at the dock-1218W yards. As regards the statement that none of the Admiralty staff at the West India Docks have been promoted, I am advised, that no less than eight of the staff employed at the depot are holding acting appointments in higher grades. Owing to the Armistice and the post-war policy of distribution of the Fleets, the conditions at the depot have been uncertain, but the whole question of staff is now under consideration.