§ Sir R. Youngasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of engineer-commanders commissioned from artificers who are, respectively, in the zone for promotion to engineer-captain in the midsummer promotion list, in that portion of the zone 2076W from which officers are usually selected and in first-class ships or other appointments from which promotion is probable; and when the first of these officers is likely to be promoted, observing that three executive officers commissioned from the lower deck have been promoted to captain, the first one five years ago?
Mr. CooperThere are seven engineer-commanders commissioned from artificers in the zone for promotion to engineer-captain at midsummer. Of these two will have been in the zone one and a-half years, one half year, and the remaining four in it for the first time. Experience in recent years has shown that outstanding candidates for promotion have been available amongst officers who were within one year of the top of the zone, which at present means about three years after entering it. Selection for promotion is based upon the whole of the officer's service and not upon that in any particular appointment.
I would remind the hon. Member that the Mate Scheme in the Engineering Branch began about a year later than in the Executive Branch, and also that promotions to captain are made at some five years more seniority in the former than in the latter.