§ Mr. Reynoldsasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what naval property, capable of providing ward room accommodation for officers, is at present unused at Portsmouth and Devonport, respectively.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingNone.
§ Mr. Reynoldsasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many officers can be provided with quarters in ward rooms at Portsmouth and Devonport; and what was the average number of officers occupying such rooms during the past 12 months.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThere is sleeping accommodation in the Devonport area for just under 700 officers and in the Portsmouth area for just under 1,200 officers. Some of this accommodation, however, provides space below the full peace-time scales. On an average, nearly 600 officers use the sleeping accommodation at Devonport and just over 900 use the accommodation at Portsmouth. The numbers fluctuate considerably, however, and the maximum numbers accommodated often approach the total of the available accommodation.
Ward rooms in establishments in the Devonport area can seat just under 800 officers and those in the Portsmouth area about 1,350. The average usage of the 83W ward rooms is about 825 in the Devon-port area and over 1,700 in the Portsmouth area. Double sittings are resorted to to accommodate the extra numbers.