§ Mr. SHEPHERDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a firm at Darlington forwarded materials for testing to the Naval Testing Station at Portsmouth in March last; that nothing more was heard until five months later: and that, consequently, orders dependent upon the result of the test were held up or lost and workpeople discharged; and whether he will therefore take such steps as will prevent delay in the future?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirma-
Financial Year. Portsmouth. Devonport. Chatham. Sheerness. Vacancies occurring. Vacancies filled. Vacancies occurring. Vacancies filled. Vacancies occurring. Vacancies filled. Vacancies occurring. Vacancies filled. 1925–1926 … … 157 23 195 24 144 21 33 7 1923–1927 … … 143 17 129 15 122 16 36 1 1927–1928 … … 159 19 145 17 155 13 38 5 1928–1929 … … 172 24 151 19 136 19 40 7 1929–1930 … … 168 23 136 19 127 20 31 4