§ Sir B. FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether two months' seniority will be granted to sick berth ratings for all special recommendations for early advancement, or whether such recommendations prior to 31st May, 1925, will not be counted?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIn making advancements from the new rosters, two months' priority is given for each occasion a sick berth rating has been recommended in his present rating for accelerated advancement, whether such recommendation was before or after 31st May, 1925. In making advancements from the old system rosters in the sick berth branch, the practice of giving special consideration to men who have been specially recommended is exactly the same as it was before the introduction of the new system rosters.
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§ Sir B. FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will consider an amendment to the Regulations governing examination for higher ratings of the sick berth branch, so that examinations in hospital abroad may be final, observing that a sick berth petty officer who passed provisionally abroad failed at the home hospital 12 months after, and eventually passed finally 15 months from the date of passing provisionally, with the result that he has lost 15 months seniority, whereas a man examined at home who failed the first time would have lost only three months' seniority?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe reply is in the negative. A uniform standard is best secured by limiting the final examination to the home hospitals. As regards the latter part of the question, ratings who are unable to pass the final examination at the first attempt cannot expect to derive any advantage from having passed the provisional examination.