§ MR. PENN (Lewisham)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the satisfactory run of H.M.S. Thunderer to Madeira and back, alluded to in the explanatory Statement of the Navy Estimates, issued by the First Lord of the Admiralty, was made on the old or on the reduced scale of engine room complements; and whether any Reports condemning the reduction in engine room complements have been received at the Admiralty from responsible Naval Officers?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. E. ROBERTSON,) DundeeThe Thunderer's run to Madeira was made on the old complement, which gave her two stokers less 1625 than the revised complement now in force. A Report unfavourable to the reduction of the number of engine room artificers in complements has been received, and will be duly considered when sufficient experience has been gained of the new system.