§ MR. HARMSWORTHI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the proportion of able seamen and boys in the Channel Fleet; and whether he will give the proportion of the two classes on board H.M.S. "Magnificent," and the number of ordinary seamen.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe following is the proportion of able seamen amid boys in the Channel Fleet: Able seamen, 79; boys, 21. In H.M.S. "Magnificent" the two classes are in the proportion, of able seamen, 77: boys, 2:1. The number of ordinary seamen is 176, and if these were included in the calculation the proportion of seamen to boys in this ship would be 89½ to 10½, which is the same as the proportion of seamen to boys in the Channel Fleet as a whole.