§ Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a number of officers, now of commander's rank and above in the Navy, have served on the lower deck; that a number of them, as Greenwich schoolboys, failed educationally for entry into the Navy as boy writers; that none of the boys who passed the test for boy writers have reached the rank of commander; and whether he will seek the cause and find a remedy for this injustice?
Mr. AlexanderRatings of the accountant branch now have opportunities of promotion to commissioned rank similar to those enjoyed by the seaman and engineering branches. They have every prospect of being promoted in due course to Paymaster Commander at which stage they will stand an equal chance with other officers of reaching higher ranks in the accountant branch. I am aware that these opportunities were not available at the time when Greenwich School boys were entered as boy writers in the Navy, and the position described by my hon. Friend may, therefore, have arisen. My hon. Friend will, however, appreciate that the ability to pass an elementary examination at an early age cannot be regarded as a test of suitability for promotion to the rank of commander. The officers to whom he refers have all undergone various courses and passed examinations for promotion during their service careers.