§ 9. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many apprentices completed their training in His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, during the year 1928; and how many of these have been retained in Devonport Dockyard as hired men since completing their apprenticeship?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMSixty-four apprentices completed their training, and they were all retained as hired men.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAMay we take this figure as representing a change of policy on the part of the Admiralty, and may we have some assurance that the policy pursued in 1928 will be continued?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI do not know that there is any change of policy.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAPreviously, they were discharged.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMNot invariably; they were retained when occasion arose.