§ Lord APSLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his Department is satisfied it possesses the most up-to-date diving apparatus; and, if not, what steps it is taking to improve it?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe diving apparatus employed in the Royal Navy is of the most up-to-date type. The depth at which it can be used is, however, limited to 35 fathoms. Attempts have been made for many years to produce a diving dress in which the wearer is not subjected to the water pressure at great depths and is also able to carry out work, The Admiralty have kept in touch with such inventions, none of which up to the present time has been considered of practical value. The German diving dress recently employed in the "M.I" operations has been under investigation by the Admiralty for some time and was considered to show some prospect of success. Arrangements had 493W accordingly been made for practical trials of the apparatus next year to be observed by Admiralty representatives. It was for this reason that it was decided to give this apparatus a trial in the "M.I" operations. As a full report on these operations has not yet been received, I am afraid I am not in a position to make any definite statement as to the value of' the German apparatus.