asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will now make a further report on the condition and whereabouts of the crew of H.M.S. "Amethyst."

The officers and men on board H.M.S. "Amethyst" are still safe and have been able to communicate with their relatives. The ship remains at her anchorage above Rose Island.

What steps have been taken to recover this crew? Are they being molested in any way?

No, they are not being molested. As for any steps being taken for their recovery, I should prefer not to make any statement at present.

Is not the crew referred to only pant of the crew? What has happened to the remainder of the crew who were landed or got ashore earlier?

A large number of them, as the hon. and gallant Member knows, have gone to Hong Kong; they are wounded.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when the last physical contact was made with the "Amethyst"?

I do not know exactly what that question means.

When was the "Amethyst" last in contact with His Majesty's representative?

She is constantly in contact by wireless.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will publish the Report of the Eastham Committee on the conditions and terms of remuneration for the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors; and if he will make a statement giving the proposed new conditions and terms of remuneration which are to be offered to the Corps.

The report of the Eastham Committee is a confidential document intended only for the advice of the Board of Admiralty. As my noble Friend has indicated in another place, it is hoped to make an announcement in the near future on the revised salaries of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.

Is the Civil Lord aware that the findings in the Eastham Committee's Report are now nearly three years' old, and that this delay on the part of the Government in forming a judgment on those findings is not only delaying recruiting but resulting in highly qualified men now actually leaving the Corp?

I cannot quite accept the suggestion that this matter is delaying recruiting. On the last occasion I made a statement, I was able to show that there were more people in the Corps than there were three years ago. At the same time, we are getting on with our consideration of this very difficult problem as quickly as we can.