asked the, Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the Admiralty will decide on the number of paymaster-lieutenants, commissioned writers, and warrant writers who are to be retained in the Royal Navy; and if he is aware that the number of the first-mentioned class is 10 per cent., of the second 20 per cent., and of the third 30 per cent. below the standard, and that the delay in fixing the number is acting, and has acted, prejudicially to some deserving officers who did good service during the War?

The question of the establishment of the Accountant Branch generally is now under consideration. No fixed standard of numbers for paymaster-lieutenants promoted from warrant rank, commissioned writers and warrant writers has yet been laid down, but the present numbers borne, although below the provisional numbers allowed during the War, are not below existing post-War requirements. The reduction in the requirements of officers after a long war must always involve a certain amount of hardship, but this hardship is not confined to any one branch, and is common to all classes of officers, whether promoted from the lower deck or not.

When is this matter likely to be decided?

We are working as quickly as we possibly can. I hope very shortly.