§ Sir R. Youngasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that many engineer-fitter apprentices at Chatham and other dockyards find full employment in high positions outside the naval service; that many of these gained Whitworth scholarships, etc.; why they did not find employment in Government service; and whether such men, skilled in 1070W mechanical and marine engineering, will be retained in future to the advantage of the Admiralty by offering them cadetships in the engineering branch of the Navy?
§ Mr. ChurchillI must refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 12th December, 1938, to a similar question by the hon. Member for Central Portsmouth (Mr. R. Beaumont). I would add that the common examination referred to therein is a competitive examination and successful candidates, provided they are medically fit, have then the opportunity of embarking on a naval career. The academic qualifications of candidates have already been tested and any change of the nature proposed would operate inequitably as regards those who initially selected the Navy as a career.