§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how long the survey of Gibraltar Harbour has been in progress; when its completion may be looked for; what is the annual cost; how many officers and how many other persons are employed thereon, and what is the future policy proposed?
§ Mr. LONGThe work has been in progress for eight years, having been commenced in the summer of 1911. It should be observed that this is not a hydrographic survey in the usual sense of the word, but is a matter of locating and removing obstructions of every description from the bed of the harbour. The survey of the Admiralty waters is completed, except for the removal of obstructions on the bottom, on which work the present staff are employed. The completion of this work will, it is estimated, take, approximately, twelve months. The average annual cost of survey is £2,850, and the average staff employed is twenty-one, comprising one commander Royal Navy, one charge man, one diver, and eighteen labourers.