asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of years able seamen are now serving before advancement to leading seamen; the number of years served by leading seamen before advancement to petty officer; the number of years served by petty officers before advancement to chief petty officer; which branches have automatic promotion; and how time served for advancement by those branches which possess automatic promotion compares with those whose advancement is by depôt roster?

The average periods served as able seaman, leading seaman and petty officer by seaman ratings advanced during the quarter ending 31st December, 1922, were 5.15, 4.13 and 7.45 years respectively. The only branch with automatic promotion, other than the obsolescent armourer branch, is the writer branch, the corresponding standard periods for which are 3, 3 and 4 years respectively.