Lieut.-Commander Braithwaiteasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether 81W he is aware that in some cases ratings recommended two months ago for commissions by local selection boards have not yet appeared before the final selection board; and whether he will consider enabling such valuable personnel to take their officer's training course without undue delay, in view of the demands arising from new construction?
Mr. AlexanderThe requirements of new construction were taken into account in fixing the rate of entry of ratings into officers' training courses. If ratings were accepted for these courses at a greater rate there would be a surplus of officers for whom no immediate useful employment could be found. While such ratings remain on the lower deck they are, of course, gaining valuable experience.