§ 9. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what ratio the civil staff of the Admiralty bears to the number of its fighting personnel and how this ratio compares with the corresponding figure for the year 1913–14?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. A. V. Alexander)I would refer the hon. Member to the particulars as to the numbers of naval and civilian personnel in the years 1914 and 1930 given in my reply of 23rd July last. (OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 2124–5) to the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Thomas Lewis). I would also refer him to the somewhat full explanation which I gave to the same hon. Member on 30th July last (OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 467–9) of the reasons why it is incorrect to draw conclusions from the ratios existing between numbers of civil staff of the Admiralty and numbers of fighting personnel at two dates, without regard to the very great changes that have occurred meanwhile in the responsibilities and functions of the staff.