§ 7. Mr. BURGOYNEasked whether the recent official Return on the health of the Navy may be accepted as a criterion of the established strength of the personnel at any average moment; and, if so, wherein lies the difference between the figures there given and the estimated total for which money was taken in the year in question?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; and I readily admit that the Return referred to is somewhat misleading except for the special purposes of the Naval Medical Service. The figure given under the heading "Average Force," on page 98 of the Return—namely, 117,100—represents the average number of men liable to treatment on board, or at the naval establishments, throughout the year. Cadets, Coastguard, and Royal Marines at head- 2049 quarters are excluded, the latter being shown separately on pages 141, 147 and 166 of the Return. The actual number borne on the 15th December, 1911, was 133,498 officers and men.