§ Sir R. Youngasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the number of commissions as engineer officer offered to the universities 2376W last year, and the dates; the numbers of applicants and the numbers accepted; the number of engine-room artificers commissioned as sub-lieutenant (E) in 1938; the number of commissions to be offered to the universities this year; the number of artificers at present recommended for commissioned rank; the number qualified educationally and professionally; and whether, in view of the difficulty of obtaining engineer officers from the universities, a large number of artificers will be commissioned this year?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThere is some difficulty in meeting the increasing requirements of officers of the engineer branch, and the scheme which was announced in 1937 for the entry of officers from the universities did not produce as many officers as anticipated; the possibility of amending the scheme is under consideration. The number of special entry cadets entered in the engineer branch in the calendar year 1938 was 61; the total number for 1939 has not yet been finally decided. The number of cadetships awarded to artificer apprentices in 1938 was four, two in January and two in September.
The numbers of artificer apprentices to be awarded cadetships this year will depend on the numbers of suitable candidates