§ Sir F. WISEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the numbers and cost of the personnel of the Fleet in 1913–14; and (as estimated) in 1925–26?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe average number of naval and marine personnel on which the Estimates for the years 1913–14 and 1925–26 were based was 139,370 (excluding coastguard) and 101,420 respectively. The cost of pay, victualling, clothing, medical attendance and accommodation for each of these years is estimated at approximately £11,447,000 and £20,526,000 respectively. Allowance has been made for the cost of providing shore accommodation (furniture, stores, etc., and maintenance of barrack buildings) or granting allowances in lieu of accommodation, but nothing has been included in respect of lodging accommodation in the ships of the Fleet, as this accommodation is merely incidental to the use of the shins as fighting machines and cannot be separated. No account has been taken of non-effective charges (half, unemployed and retired pay and pensions).