§ Major NEWTONasked the Secretary to-the Admiralty what percentage of, respec- 1431W tively, the officers and men of H.M.S. have, during the last eighteen months died and been under medical treatment otherwise than for purely trivial causes respectively; whether these percentages are upon the increase; and whether he will consider the advisability of providing that this vessel should now have a change of station?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am much obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend for informing me personally of the vessel to which he refers. The percentage of deaths during the eighteen months ending 30th March, 1916, was: Officers, nil; men, 0.66. As regards the percentage of those who were under medical treatment during that period, it is not possible to separate the trivial from the more serious cases, but the percentage of all sick cases treated on board is 2.24. Statistics regarding hospital cases are not available. The information as to sickness for the last quarter available shows a decrease in percentage as compared with the two preceding quarters. With regard to the last part of the question, the vessel will be moved to another station when circumstances permit.