asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many wives of naval ratings have now joined their husbands abroad; and what percentage this number represents of those who have made application for passages.

Excluding those who have joined their husbands under the special arrangements applying to B.A.O.R., 253 wives of naval ratings have sailed to join their husbands abroad. Approximately 10 are still on passage. This figure repre- sents 83 per cent. of the total number of applications received at the Admiralty from Commanders-in-Chief. No information is available at the Admiralty, however, as to the total number of applications which have been considered by Commanders-in-Chief abroad or which are in transit.