§ 20. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether all branches of Naval Reserve personnel are up to strength; and, if not, in what branches deficiency exists and in what numbers?
§ Sir S. HoareThe present position is not unsatisfactory. The only deficiencies consist of 620 ratings in the Royal Naval Reserve out of an establishment of 8,330, and of 790 ratings in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve out of an establishment of 5,300. Of these numbers, however, more than one-third are serving under short engagements in the Fleet, and are expected to return to the Reserves when their Naval service is finished. The shortage in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve is chiefly in the signal and telegraphist branches. In the other Naval Reserves, I am glad to say that there is no deficiency.