asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the approximate difference in the cost of the Navy Estimates provided in 1914 and 1925, exclusive of the air arm, after allowance has been made for the rise in prices and wages and the non-effective Vote "has been deducted, so as to make a true pre-War comparison?

The provision in the Navy Estimates for the current year, exclusive of the Grant-in-Aid of the Fleet Air Arm and of the cost of non-effective services, is £51,049,200. If the amount thus provided were calculated on the basis of pre-War prices and wages, it is estimated that the figure would be approximately .£31,860,000, which is £15,900,000 less than the provision made for corresponding services in the Estimates for 1914–15.