§ SIR JOHN COLOMBI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any branch or section of the Naval Intelligence Department is exclusively employed in collecting, digesting, and tabulating all necessary information respecting merchant shipping and operations of sea commerce all over the world for the use of the Admiralty and the guidance of the senior officers of His Majesty's Fleet in the event of war; and, if so, what is the constitution of such branch or section, and what is annually spent upon it.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe special duty of collecting and tabulating information of the nature referred to in the Question is assigned to a special officer in the Intelligence Department acting under the Director of Naval Intelligence. The rank of the officer referred to is that of Post Captain, and he receives the pay and allowances of his rank. He has the assistance of the Civil Staff of the Department of the Director of Naval Intelligence, and it is further proposed to furnish him with a special assistant. Much of the information received and tabulated by this officer is furnished by the Board of Trade.