§ Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the average amount of home service now served by ratings of the engine-room artificer, mechanician, and stoker branches?
§ Mr. AMMONIt is not clear from the question whether the hon. Baronet wishes to know the average time spent on home service as opposed to foreign service by each separate rating of the branches mentioned throughout the whole period of their career, or the average time that each separate rating spends at present on the "longest at home roster." In either case I regret that the compilation of this information would entail an expenditure of lime and labour which I am sure the hon. Baronet will agree would not be justified.