HC Deb 05 August 1878 vol 242 c1178
MR. E. HUBBARD

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he would inform the House how and when he intends to take the Census of the Navy in the form ordered on Monday last, July 29th; and, how soon he expects to lay upon the Table of the House the completed Census, the basis of any correct actuarial calculation of the cost of the Seamen Widows' Pension Fund?

MR. W. H. SMITH

, in reply, said, that instructions had been issued for the preparation of forms for taking the Census of the Navy, and he hoped they would soon be completed. When they were, it was intended to issue them to the Commanders - in - Chief at the different ports throughout the globe, to have them filled up on the 1st of January and returned to the Admiralty. But he was afraid it would be the middle of the next year before the Returns could be collected so as to form the basis of any correct actuarial calculation of the cost of a Seamen Widows' Pension Fund.