§ MR. STEWART WALLACE (Tower Hamlets, Limehouse)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty will he explain why it is that the Admiralty is the only large Department which has not 451 determined its normal clerical establishment, in accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Civil Establishments and the Treasury Minute of 10th August, 1889; and what, if any, is the special reason why the Admiralty has not complied with this recommendation, which has been acted upon by all other Public Departments?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe normal clerical establishment of the Admiralty has not hitherto been determined, because it has been found possible to curtail the Higher Division as vacancies occurred. The recommendations of the Royal Commission have been kept in mind, and since the issue of the Treasury Minute quoted, the number of Higher Division clerkships has been reduced by 19. The Admiralty and Treasury are in communication on the whole subject.