§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the question of establishment as it affects the crews of His Majesty's tugs, with the view of increasing the number of men on the establishment list; whether he is aware that twenty years ago every man was established on reaching the age of eighteen years, and that in the present circumstances the numbers are very considerably reduced; will he further consider the question of leave and give some extension of four days a year, in view of the length of time these men are required to be aboard their vessels; and, seeing the long hours of their employment, will he take the necessary steps to bring their wages more nearly into line with those paid to crews of private tugs?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe numbers on the establishment were very carefully revised last year, and it is not proposed to reopen the question at present. The reply to the second part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative, except that 1411W the numbers of established men are less, both for these crews and in the dockyards generally, than they were before the establishment was suspended some years back. The proposals in the remaining parts of the question are now under consideration in connection with the annual petitions from the men themselves.