§ Mr. BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the stokers in the nucleus crew ships are working in two 1970W watches instead of in three, as in other ships; and whether he can state what reserve of stokers there is in the Home ports to supplement the crews of the nucleus and skeleton crews in the event of war?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe arrangements for working the engine-room staff are left to the discretion of the officers of the ship; but there is no necessity for stokers in nucleus crew ships to work in two watches except when the ships are at sea steaming for more than a short time at considerable speeds. It is not desirable to give the information asked for in the last part of the question.