asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of officers serving on the headquarters staff; and the numbers of these employed on technical and administrative duties, respectively.

The number of uniformed officers serving on the headquarters staff on 1st October last was 729. It is virtually impossible to give an accurate breakdown because technical officers usually have some administrative duties and vice versa; but roughly two-thirds of these officers are employed on duties which are primarily technical and one-third on duties which are primarily administrative.

Can my hon. Friend say whether the recommendations of the Nihill Committee about headquarters staff have been put into effect and what results they are having, or will have?

Yes, the Nihill Committee recommendations are being put into effect now. We hope that when they are fully in operation there will be considerable reductions in the administrative staff.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any idea of how many years it will be before we have more admirals than ships?

That will be a very long time.

Can my hon. Friend say how these figures compare with the figures immediately pre-war, having regard to the fragmentary size of the Navy now compared with what it was before the war?

I am afraid I could not without notice.