§ 14. Mr. HOHLERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state how many naval writers, hostilities only, were employed on His Majesty's ship "Egmont'' at the date of the Armistice and how many have since been released; how many were employed on the Mediterranean station and how many have since been released; are any reliefs for these men on their way; and will he state what steps he proposes to take to deal with this question?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the AD MIR ALTY (Dr. Macnamara)On the date of the Armistice there were employed in His Majesty's ship "Egmont" five second writers and ten third writers for hostilities only. All have been sent home. On the institution of the dispersal roster, 143 writers were employed on the Mediterranean station; fifty-seven have since been released. A number of writers have been sent out recently, and others are on their way. Every effort is being made to relieve all demobilisable writers abroad: but, in view of the shortage of men of this rating, delay is inevitable before all can be released.