§ 70. Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the central storekeeping system is now functioning successfully in His Majesty's ships and establishments, he will consider the abolition of the departments of the Director of Victualling and the Director of Contracts and Purchase and transfer the duties now performed by them to the Director of the Naval Store Department, thereby effecting a saving of £96,974 per year, observing that it should now be a matter of simplicity for the victualling accounts to be merged into the central store account?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe amalgamation of three departments having such essentially different functions would be administratively unsound, and could not possibly effect the saving suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.
Vice-Admiral Sir REGINALD HALLMay I ask my hon. and gallant Friend whether any single sea officer is attached to the Department of Victualling?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI cannot answer that question without notice. If my hon. and gallant Friend will put down a question, I will certainly answer it.