asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the twenty commissions as acting mates that have been granted from the lower deck are confined solely to unmarried men; if, so, why; and, if not, what is the proportion of married to unmarried men; and whether the twenty new commissions will be awarded to the men most fitted for promotion, whether married or single?

The first twenty commissions were confined to unmarried men, experience in the sister Service having shown that this is a desirable course.