§ Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the Dumber of seaman-pattern duck caps and cloth caps issued in the Royal Navy on repayment between 1st January, 1928, and 30th September, 1928; and whether he is aware that, owing to the unpopularity of the present pattern cap, naval ratings dressed in Class II uniform purchase this article of uniform extensively from private dealers?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe answer to the first part of the question is 12,850 and 6,400, respectively. As regards the last part, it is known that ratings purchase caps from private dealers. I may add that the present official patterns of caps were introduced as recently as 1926, and that they are under consideration at the present time.