§ Mr. Parkerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of seamen ratings recommended for the 1937 Fleet selection boards for commissioned rank; the number which appeared before, and was selected by, the boards and which received the special course of training in His Majesty's Ship "Ramillies"; the number who were commissioned in 888W August last; and the schools attended before joining the navy by the successful candidates and the rejected candidates, respectively?
§ Mr. ShakespeareFollowing is the information required:—
Station or command Recommended for and interviewed by Fleet Selection Boards Accepted for course in His Majesty's Ship "Ramillies" Promoted to Acting Sub-Lietenant East Indies 1 1 — China — — — Africa 2 1 — Mediterranean 19 12 7 Portsmouth 4 3 3 The Nore 3 3 2 Plymouth 9* 6† 3 Home Fleet 3 3 — America and West ladies. 2 2 2 43 31 17 * Includes two from China. † Includes one from China.
Successful. Training Ship "Mercury" 3 Training Ship "Warspite" 1 Kenton College, Kenya 1 Northgate School, Ipswich 1 Municipal Technical School, Newry, County Down 1 Andover Grammar School 1 R.H.S., Greenwich 1 Bexley Heath Central School 1 Sir John Deans Grammar School, Northwich 1 Hoylake Parade Central School, Hoylake 1 Leopold Road Central School, N.W.10 1 Sir John Leman Secondary School, Beccles 1 Archbishop Holgates Grammar School, York 1 Kettering Central School 1 Colwyn Bay Secondary School 1
Unsuccessful. Training Ship "Exmouth" 1 Training Ship "Arethusa" 3 Training Ship "Mercury" 4 R.H.S., Greenwich 4 Mile End House School, Portsmouth 1 City and Council School, Chester 1
§ Mr. Parkerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the number of seamen ratings recommended for the 1938 Fleet selection boards for candidates for sub-lieutenant; where the boards were held and the numbers which appeared before the boards and were recommended for the special course; and the number now undergoing training on board His Majesty's Ship "Resolution"?
889W
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe total number of candidates to appear before Fleet Selection Boards in 1938 was 67. Of this number 42 were accepted and are undergoing the special training course. The following are the details:
Station or Command. Number recommended for Fleet Selection Board. Number recommended by Selection Board. China 5 5 America and West Indies. 2 2 Mediterranean 14 8 Africa 2 — The Nore 3 2 Portsmouth 10 6 Plymouth 8 5 Home Fleet 23 14 Totals 67 42
§ Mr. Parkerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what were the reasons for the rejection of a further six candidates for commissions, in addition to the eight who failed in the educational examination, after taking the special course of training and qualifying both professionally and educationally, so that only 17 ratings were commissioned out of 31 candidates, observing that 126 officers were last year taken from the Mercantile Marine and a similar number is to be taken this year?
§ Mr. ShakespeareIn addition to the candidates' educational standard, the final selection board have to consider such matters as the candidates' professional knowledge of seamanship, their power of command and force of character. The selection board after considering all these factors came to the conclusion that the six candidates mentioned were unsuitable for immediate promotion to commissioned rank.