§ 38. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the proportion of men in the Royal Navy available to attend divine worship each Sunday who do so; and what has been the trend in numbers since compulsory church attendance was abandoned.
Mr. DugdaleDetailed figures of church attendance are not available but 15 per cent. is thought to be a reasonable estimate. When compulsory church parades were abandoned there was at first a very sharp decline in the attendance but there has been a marked improvement during the past 12 months.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeIs my hon. Friend aware that only a very small proportion of shore based officers ever attempt to set an example to their men in the matter of attending to their religious duties? Is that not a matter into which he could cause some investigation to be made?
Mr. DugdaleI would not support the statement made by my hon. Friend. In any case it is a matter for the individual's conscience and not for the Admiralty.