§ 11. Lieut.-Commander BOWERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many committees were set up by the Admiralty following on the events at Invergordon last September; whether any of these committees have reported; and what action has been taken by the Admiralty?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLThree Admiralty Committees were appointed last October, with Terms of Reference 342 which amounted to a complete review of existing naval policy in regard to the distribution, organisation, manning, training and discipline of the Fleet. This review was undertaken with the objects, on the one hand, of finding ways of effecting the large reductions in naval expenditure demanded by the national financial situation, with as little interference as possible with new construction requirements and other essential services, and on the other hand of introducing such reforms as experience showed to be necessary. The final report of one committee and progress reports from the other two were reviewed before the introduction of the Navy Estimates, and in my speech on the 7th March I endeavoured to summarise for the information of the House the main conclusions reached. Since then the committees have drawn up and submitted a number of detailed proposals for furthering the general policy of the Board, and these, which cover a wide field, are now in the course of consideration by the Board.
§ Lieut.-Commander BOWERCan my right hon. Friend say whether any general reorganisation of the system employed in the Admiralty is in view?
§ Lieut.-Commander BOWERWhat I meant to ask was whether the general system of organisation at the Admiralty is under review with a view to its improvement, having regard to the fact that it has not been generally reorganised for the better part of a century.