HC Deb 21 May 1931 vol 252 cc2217-8W
Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider amending the regulation which enjoins that naval shipwright apprentices must effect a transfer with a dockyard shipwright apprentice in order to take the examination which qualifies for a cadetship at Greenwich, so that it will be possible for all naval shipwright apprentices who wish to take this examination to do so without first securing a transfer with a dockyard shipwright apprentice?

Mr. ALEXANDER

The regulations governing the service of naval shipwright apprentices are distinct from those for dockyard shipwright apprentices, and there is no system of exchange such as indicated in the question. The purpose for which naval shipwright apprentices are trained is generally to provide efficient shipwrights for employment under seagoing conditions, and the cadetships at Greenwich are for the instruction of dockyard apprentices.