§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state the average number of complete nights spent under way at sea since the beginning of the year to the last day of April by the battleships which have been continuously in commission with nucleus crews, viz., "Magnificent," "Centurion," "Majestic," "Glory," and "Empress of India," which now form part of the Home Fleet.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON,) DundeeIt has not been considered practicable to give night training at sea to any considerable extent to nucleus crews which only comprised two-fifths of a ship's complement. This was one of the reasons for manning ships of the Home Fleet with a larger percentage of their full complement. The period to which the hon. Member's question refers is one of transition, and the Home Fleet is only now about to commence its first combined cruise. No figures can therefore yet be given.