MECHANICIANS (PROMOTION).
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total number of mates E. who have been promoted from mechanician since the rank of mate E. was introduced?
One promotion to mate E. has been made from mechanician.
PETTY OFFICERS.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the average age at which chief petty officers of the seamen, signal, wireless and stoker branches are promoted to that rating?
Taking the average ages for the three home ports combined for the March quarter of this year the figures are: C.P.O. (Seamen Branch), 35 years 4 months. 264 Chief Yeoman of Signals, 36 years 6 months. C.P.O. Telegraphist, 32 years. Chief Stoker, 36 years 4 months. Mechanicians who are advanced under a special scheme average 32.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the percentage of chief petty officers, petty officers, and leading rates to the total in the seamen, signal, wireless, and stoker branches?
The percentages are as follow: Per Cent. Seamen Branch (including S.S. men and natives but omitting boys under training) 25 Signal Branch 47 Wireless Branch 42 Stoker Branch 38* * Acting leading stokers are reckoned among the higher ratings.
PORT CLASS REQUEST MEETINGS.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the classes of ratings who actually elected representatives for the port class request meetings, 1926, at Devonport, Portsmouth, and Chatham; the number of ratings of each class who were at the port and were eligible to attend the meetings arranged for selection of the representatives at such meetings; the number of representatives of each class who were elected; and the number of each class who actually attended the meetings that elected the representatives?
Portsmouth. Chatham. Devonport. — a. b. c. d. a. b. c. d. a. b. c. d. I. Seamen … Yes 4,915 7 13 Yes 2,434 7 800 Yes 3,715 7 600 Signal … Yes 311 2 30 Yes 149 2 90 Yes 167 2 18 Telegraphist … Yes 470 2 41 Yes 198 2 75 Yes 169 2 40 Sailmaker … Yes 6 1 4 Yes 6 1 3 Yes 14 1 7 Regulating … Yes 88 1 18 Yes 55 1 40 Yes 93 1 23 II. Mechanician … Yes 32 2 4 Yes 14 2 12 Yes 22 2 12 Stoker … No 1,826 — 1 Yes 1,156 8 850 Yes 1,611 7 74 III. E.R.A. … Yes 420 5 61 Yes 200 6 120 Yes 338 5 180 IV. Royal Marines … No 215 — — Yes 1,198* 7* 464* Yes 1,073 7 120 School of Music … Yes 170 4 11 V. Elec. Artificer … Yes 217 3 9 Yes 80 3 25 Yes 75 2 29 Ordnance Artificer … Yes 102 2 21 Yes 46 2 40 Yes 72 2 45 Armourer … Yes 16 1 7 Yes 11 1 2 Yes 11 1 5 VI. Shipwright … No 121 — 1 Yes 39 2 24 Yes 121 2 25 Joiner … No 33 — — Yes 8 1 5 Yes 58 1 15 Blacksmith … No 24 — — Yes 18 1 6 Yes 30 1 10 Plumber … No 22 — — Yes 13 1 4 Yes 29 1 8 Painter … No 27 — — Yes 12 1 3 Yes 20 1 4 Cooper … No 9 — — Yes 4 1 3 Yes 14 1 4 VII. Writer … Yes 200 2 11 Yes 118 2 55 Yes 138 3 5 Supply … Yes 153 2 2 Yes 80 3 40 Yes 135 3 3 Ship's Cook … Yes 217 3 45 Yes 117 3 30 Yes 187 1 0 VIII. Sick Berth … Yes 218 5 37 Yes 195 5 74 Yes 167 5 60 IX. Officers' Steward … Yes 403 3 31 Yes 274 3 130 Yes 300 3 19 Officers' Cook … Yes 143 3 5 Yes 3 Yes 3 15 * Includes R.M. Depot, Deal.
The particulars are given in the following tabular statement under four headings:— ( a ) Whether or not the Class actually elected representatives. ( b ) Number in class available and eligible to attend meetings for selection of representatives. ( c ) Number of representatives elected. ( d ) Number actually attending meetings that elected representatives.
NOTE.—In some instances the figures given are approximate only.
BRITISH ARMY (SHOOTING RANGE ACCIDENT).
asked the Secretary of State for War whether any apology was tendered to the Belgian Government and to the individuals affected by the shots which reached the Dover-Ostend steamer last July from a camp on the coast, how the mistake occurred, and whether disciplinary action was taken?
An expression of regret for the incident in question has been conveyed to the Belgian Government. All instructions to ensure safety were observed, and no blame can be attributed to any individual. This regrettable accident shows that the range cannot be considered safe, and it has been decided to close it down temporarily until more effective arrangements for ensuring safety can be devised.