§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the. Admiralty whether time served as warrant officer is taken into consideration when making selections from lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) for promotion to commander, in view of the relatively higher age and lower seniority when compared with lieutenant-commanders (ex-cadet)?
§ Mr. AMMONNo matters other than the abilities of the officers concerned are taken into consideration when making selections for promotion to commander.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of executive mates who were awarded corn-missions prior to 11th November, 1918, and who have been promoted to commander on the active list?
§ Mr. AMMON363 commissions were granted to mates (executive) with seniority prior to 11th November, 1918. Five of these officers have been promoted to commander on the Active List.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the percentage of lieutenant-commanders (ex-cadet) who have been promoted to commander since 1925?
§ Mr. AMMONThe proportion of lieutenant-commanders (ex-cadet) promoted during this period was 49¾ per cent.
Viscountess ASTORasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any requests have been received from the Welfare Conference, 1930, relative to increased opportunities for promotion to officer rank; and, if so, whether representatives of any, or all, of the branches concerned will be called by the Departmental Committee investigating this question?
§ Mr. AMMONRequests have been received from the Welfare Conference, 1930, respecting increased opportunities for promotion to officer rank for engine-room artificers, writers, shipwrights, artisans generally, and officers' stewards and cooks. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the Noble 1335W Lady to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for North Portsmouth (Sir B. Fa11e) on 5th November [OFFICIAL REPORT, column 842.]