§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware of the existence of a large body of men in Aberdeen and vicinity, of whom some hundreds would in all probability be at once available, prepared to join the Volunteer Naval Reserve if the opportunity were given them, by the formation of a branch in Aberdeen on similar lines to the branch at present in Glasgow, also of the feeling and desire on the part of the community for the creation of such a force in Aberdeen; if he can state whether the Admiralty Volunteer Committee have considered the matter; and whether he will cause local inquiries to be made on the subject during the autumn with a view to action.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. MCKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.Representations have been received from certain gentlemen at Aberdeen to this effect. The matter is receiving the consideration of the Admiralty Volunteer Committee, but as no provision has been made in the Navy Estimates, it is not proposed to create a new division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at Aberdeen this year.