§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Minister of State for Defence what changes are being made to the arrangements for the entry and training of naval officers.
§ Mr. KirkOfficers joining the Royal Navy as university cadets in future will be able if they so desire to undertake between four and 12 months naval training before starting their degree studies. We shall also be allowing some engineer officers to start degree courses at R.N.E.C. Manadon directly from school.
Those engineers who do their naval training first will in future undertake only one such year before starting their degree courses, instead of two as at present; and academic studies undertaken by non-degree seaman and supply and secretariat general list officers during initial training will be reduced for future entrants from one year to two terms.
Those officers who have hitherto entered the Royal Navy as cadets will in future do so as midshipmen, though this will not affect their rates of pay.