§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked whether the ships of the third division of the Home Fleet are to assemble shortly for continued exercises; and whether, in view of the number of accidents that have occurred to ships manned with only a fraction of their complements, these ships will have their nucleus crews brought up to full strength?
§ Mr. McKENNASuch prospective movements of His Majesty's ships as it is desirable to publish are already communicated 344 to the Press. It is not admitted that there has been any large number of accidents in the third division of the Home Fleet as is implied in the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREDoes the right hon. Gentleman, in answering the question, take recognition of the fact that there were nine accidents to nucleus crews in the first part of 1908, and only one where a ship had the full complement?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have answered the question after consideration of all the circumstances in each particular case.