§ 24. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he 1797 has considered the recent resolution sent to him by the Plymouth Incorporated Mercantile Association to the effect that the policy of the Admiralty in continuing the depletion of the naval base at Plymouth, by reduction in the number of ships and personnel, is not in the best interests of the nation; and what action he proposes to take?
Mr. ALEXANDERIt is not the policy of the Admiralty to deplete the naval base at Plymouth, by reduction in the number either of ships or of personnel, except in so far as this is necessitated by any general reduction of the Fleet and of naval establishments. Actually, Plymouth has suffered proportionately lean reduction than have other naval ports.