§ Captain BERKELEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the qualifying sea-time of naval officers is being strictly adhered to; whether there is a rule against officers holding Admiralty appointments for more than two years: whether the rule is being adhered to; and, if not, in how many cases are officers employed in the Admiralty who have held the same appointments for more than two years?
§ Mr. AMMONThe rules requiring officers to have certain periods of sea time in order to qualify for promotion have been adhered to in all but very exceptional cases, in which officers have, owing to the exigencies of the Service, been retained in non-seagoing appointments against their wishes. Such exceptional cases are, however, very rare. No rule is in force definitely limiting Admiralty appointments, as distinct from other appointments, to two years, though the 1029W majority of shore appointments, whether in the Admiralty or elsewhere, are, as a matter of practice, so limited. The circumstances of Admiralty appointments, indeed, vary so greatly that it would be impossible to lay down any hard and fast rule. Fifty-five officers are now employed at the Admiralty who have held the same appointments for more than two years, hut the majority of these are filling posts in which special professional or technical qualifications are necessary.