§ MR. HARMSWORTH (Caithnessshire)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the percentage of seamen who are efficient in ships of the Channel Fleet.
(Answered by Mr. Arnold-forster.) It is not quite clear from the hon. Member's Question what is the information required. In view, however, of his previous Question of the 18th instant, *the inquiry is understood as referring to the numbers who have passed through the gunnery or torpedo schools. The total number of men of the seamen class in the Channel Fleet (excluding ordinary seamen who are not eligible for gunnery or torpedo ratings) is 1711, and of these 1502, or about 88 per cent., have passed through the schools and hold gunnery or torpedo ratings, from that of seaman 6 qualified in gunnery upwards, whilst 948, or about 55 per cent., hold ratings not lower than those of seaman gunner or seaman torpedo man.