§ Sir R. Youngasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any retired engineer officers are engaged to recruit men for the engine-room artificers' branch of the Royal Navy; if so, how many; what method is followed to secure fully qualified men to offer their services; and are employers of labour being interviewed for this purpose, and with what result?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThree engineer officers, one electrical officer and one ordnance officer from the retired list are engaged in the recruitment of men for the artificer branches of the Navy. These five officers have been appointed to the London, Newcastle, Bristol, Birmingham and Liverpool recruiting areas. They visit the towns in their areas to give information about service in the artificer branches to interested candidates and interview candidates at local recruiting offices and drill halls. Since these officers were appointed early this year, there has been an increase in the number of artificers entered. Employers of labour are also being interviewed, and I hope that the Admiralty will receive from them as much co-operation as the demand for skilled men in private industry enables them to give.