§ SIR JOHN BENN (Devonport)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in allocating men to the various ships, more regard can he had to the place of residence of the wives and families of the men; and whether he is aware that under the new system the practice has increased of sending men of the Eastern Division to serve on ships of the Western Division, and vice versa.
(Answered by Mr. Lambert.) As regards the first Question this is done as far as possible. The practice of sending men to port divisions other than their own is not increasing. In a few cases of ships belonging to the Chatham Port Division men have been temporarily lent from other ports as required by the exigencies of the service, but these men are being returned to their proper port as opportunities arise.