§ MR. JOHN DEWAR (Inverness)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the cause of the delay in proceeding with the erection of Royal Naval Reserve batteries in the Islands of Skye and Barra; and will he say when the work will be commenced.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. PRETYMAN, Suffolk, Wood-bridge)As will be explained in the First Lord's Memorandum to be circulated with the Navy Estimates, the full numbers of the Royal Naval Reserve have been completed, whilst the growth of the Royal Fleet Reserve seems to make it possible that the further increase in the Royal Naval Reserve at one time contemplated will not now be required. Under these circumstances it is necessary for the Board of Admiralty to review afresh the whole distribution of Royal Naval Reserve batteries, and the particular batteries referred to in the hon. Member's Question will be fully considered with others.