§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Admiralty are able to assure the House that for the purpose of keeping the ships of the A Division of the Fleet Reserve at all times in efficient fighting condition there is maintained at present a sufficient staff of mechanics, and whether the full complement of mechanics' ratings for making good defects is as a fact obtained and kept up.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTEROwing to the great increase in the number of ships in the Fleet Reserve difficulty has been experienced in maintaining a sufficient number of mechanics in certain ratings, and steps are being taken with a view to increase the number of men available, and to maintain the ships of the A Division of the Fleet Reserve in their present efficient fighting condition.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)May I ask the hon. Gentleman what class of men he includes under the head mechanics?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe class in which the principal deficiency exists is that of shipwrights.