§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the recent alteration of the lower limit of the zone from two to three years causes a further handicap to the lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) who will not enter the zone until much later than the cadet-entry officers; and whether he will consider the desirability of returning to the previous limits?
Mr. ALEXANDERI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply of the 18th June on this subject to the hon. Member for North Portsmouth (Sir B. Falle) [OFFICIAL REPORT, col. 381].
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) are in the zone for promotion on 30th June next; how many are under 40 years of age; and how many are in fleet appointments, i.e., battleships, battle cruisers, and cruisers in full commission, as distinct from shore establishments and special complement vessels from which promotion is improbable?
Mr. ALEXANDERTwenty lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) are in the zone for promotion on 30th June next. Seven are under 40 years of age. Six are serving in seagoing appointments in battleships, battle cruisers, or cruisers. It is, however, incorrect to assume that promotion from other appointments is improbable.
1165W
§ Mr. MALONEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total number of mates promoted to lieutenants since the revised regulations of 1920, and the number promoted at the minimum age, 23, as the result of being commissioned at 21 and obtaining all first-class certificates, as foreshadowed in Notes on Naval Policy, No. 48, appended to the First Lord's statement explanatory of Navy Estimates, 1920–21; the minimum age at which the Dartmouth and special entry cadets are commissioned as sub-lieutenants; the classes of certificates obtained in the Greenwich course, and the seamanship, navigation, gunnery, and torpedo examinations by each batch of mates since the revised regulations of 1920; and whether he will consider publishing the class of certificate and time gained against each
Year promoted. Seamanship. Greenwich. Navigation. Gunnery. Torpedo. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 1921 … 1 2 — 3 — — — 2 1 — 3 — 3 — — 1922 … 3 2 — 5 — — 2 3 — 1 3 1 1 4 — 1923 … 2 3 — — 5 — — 4 1 — 4 1 — 5 — 1924 … — 5 — 4 1 — — 4 — 1 3 — 2 3 — (1P) (1P) 1925 … 2 3 — 3 2 — — 5 — 1 4 — — 5 — 1926 … 5 3 — 1 7 — — 8 — 1 4 — — 7 1 (3P) 1927 … 1 6 — 2 5 — 2 4 1 — 5 1 — 6 1 (1P) 1928 … 6 2 — 1 5 2 1 1 4 1 6 1 1 6 1 (2P) (P)="Pass" Certificate. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.