§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the total reduction of staff to be made and the number in training at the engine-room artificer apprentices' training establishment and at the mechanicians' training establishment?
§ Mr. AMERYI assume the hon. Member refers to His Majesty's ships "Fisgard" and "Indus," but I must point out that these establishments do not exist merely for the purpose of training engine-room artificer apprentices. Instruction is provided for all branches of artificer apprentices and for many officers and men from the Fleet. It is the intention to close His Majesty's ship "Indus" as an artificer apprentice training establishment in a few months' time,1566W but a portion of the establishment will continue to exist for the other services mentioned. The complements which will be required eventually have not been completely settled and it is not possible at the present moment to say what will be the total reduction of staff. The number of artificer apprentices in training at the present time is 910. As regards the mechanical training establishment at Chatham, the number of mechanician candidates under training in 1914 was over 250. The number now under training is 56, of whom 8 are Royal Australian Navy ratings. In view of the reduced numbers now under training, reductions in the instructional staff of the mechanical training establishment, Chatham, are being effected. It is not, however, possible at present to say what the total reduction will be.