HC Deb 18 August 1909 vol 9 cc1359-60
Mr. COURTHOPE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the declared Admiralty policy of commissioning and recommissioning ships with full complements with the officers and men of ships manned with nucleus crews and making up the less important details from the depots has been departed from on any recent occasions, officers being separated from the men they have trained; and whether, in view of the dissatisfaction caused and loss of efficiency entailed by this practice, he will take steps to ensure that the officers of nucleus crew ships shall in all cases accompany their men on being turned over to fully-commissioned ships?

Mr. McKENNA

I am aware that on certain occasions exceptions have been made to the rule referred to, but steps are always taken to ensure that so far as possible the officers of nucleus-crew ships accompany their men on being turned over to ships allowed a full complement—and exceptions are made only when they are unavoidable.