§ BARON DIMSDALE (Herts, Hitchin)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the number of Engineer Students at present under training is much less than usual; and whether, in view of the contemplated increase in our naval strength, it is the intention of the Admiralty to increase the number of admissions of Engineer Students this year?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONYes; there has been a reduction, as it is proposed to transfer certain of the work hitherto done by engineer officers to engine-room artificers. This year there will be, for the first time, entries from outside into this branch of the Service; I do not propose, therefore, until I know the result of this change, to make any addition to the number of students trained at Government expense.