§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked whether the First Lord of the Admiralty's attention has been called to the fact that the total number of officers and men serving on the active list of the Royal Navy down to 15th June last was 131,862, inclusive of the Royal Marines, who number 17,083, and that our Reserves number 24,700; and whether the sixteen cruisers attached to the Fourth Division of the Home Fleet can only be manned by Royal Naval Reserve men after war is declared?
§ Mr. McKENNAWith regard to the first and second parts of the question, the 196 numbers quoted by the Noble Lord as borne on the active list are correct; the numbers quoted for the Reserves, however, are not correct, as there are more than twice that number. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Sir WILLIAM BYLESThe right hon. Gentleman having answered these questions, may I ask him why he regards his duties in Grand Committee as prior to those in this House?
§ Mr. McKENNAI came down in what I hoped would be ample time, but, unfortunately, I found that it was a few minutes after my questions had been passed.