§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, in January, 1902, 17 per cent. of the commanders' list and 44.4 per cent. of the captains' list were gaining experience in command of ships; and whether he can give the comparative figures at the present moment for similar fully-manned ships?
Mr. DAVIDSONI am not aware of the precise basis on which my hon. and gallant Friend's percentages for January, 1902, were arrived at: they appear to include certain coastguard vessels, etc., which have no counterpart at the present time. The time spent at sea by these vessels was comparatively small, and they were not always full manned. To make the years 1902 and the present time comparable, it would be necessary to include certain ships of the Reserve fleet in which a certain amount of sea-going experience is obtainable, and on this basis the corresponding figures are: 22 per cent. for commanders, 38.5 per cent. for captains.