§ 4. Mr. WISEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any economies were effected in the last year as a result of recommendations by die Research Department of the Admiralty; and by how much such economies exceeded the whole cost of maintaining the Department?
The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell)The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the function of the Scientific Research Department is to increase the efficiency of naval material. The extension of its life, thereby reducing its cost, is one way of increasing efficiency which is always kept in view. But there are many other ways, for instance ensuring a higher standard of performance, greater safety in handling, and so on, which may be of even greater importance, but which cannot be assessed in precise monetary teems or fairly related to any particular year.