MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, have the firing returns from the Mediterranean Fleet now been scrutinised at the Admiralty in accordance with the practice which had been adopted by the Board on the 23rd April last; and whether, seeing that some of the battleships and first-class cruisers in that fleet have only had three half-days gunnery practice this year, and that one ship has has not had that, do the Admiralty propose to hold the admiral in command of the fleet responsible for the general low standard of shooting efficiency in that fleet; and will they now reconsider the advisability of causing it to be understood that the retention by admirals and captains of their respective commands will in future depend on the adequate shooting efficiency of the fleets or ships under their orders.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.Returns are carefully scrutinised as received. The attention of the Commander-in-Chief is, when necessary, called to any special points in connection with the Returns. I have already, on more than one occasion, stated the views of the Admiralty with regard to the importance of gunnery and good shooting. The Board have every confidence that the officers referred to in the hon. Member's Question are using their best endeavours to produce the desired result. They are, moreover, of opinion that no advantage to the service would accrue from the issue of orders of the nature suggested by the hon. Member.