§ Commander Maitlandasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty by what percentage are the port numbers at Chatham over- or under-borne in the case of chief petty officers, upper-deck, petty officers, upper-deck, leading seamen and able seamen, respectively; and in each case what percentage is fully trained substantively and non-substantively, respectively.
Mr. DugdaleC.P.Os. and P.Os. are over-borne to the extent of 71 per cent. and 3 per cent., respectively. Leading seamen are 49 per cent. under-borne, whilst the bearing of A/Bs. and Ord. seamen is approximately correct. The overbearing of C.P.Os. and P.Os. is being reduced, partly by transfers to other branches and partly by discharges on compassionate grounds in addition to the normal process of release. 34 C.P.Os. and 325 P.Os. have been discharged during the last three months. The difference between these figures is accounted for by the fact that C.P.Os. are not applying for release in very large numbers.
I regret that the detailed information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available. It is estimated, however, that of the total Chatham Port Division numbers, approximately 100 per cent. are fully trained substantively and 50 per cent. non-substantively. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that the revised scheme of non-substantive training introduced with the new Pay Code (now known as training for Part II qualifications) is not expected to be implemented in full for six or seven years.