HC Deb 13 June 1873 vol 216 cc909-10
SIR JOHN HAY

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If any arrangements are in contemplation to give the Members of this House an opportunity of witnessing the assemblage of ships at Spithead, on the occasion of the visit of His Majesty the Shah to Portsmouth?

MR. GOSCHEN

in reply, said, that no arrangements for special trains, special luncheons, or special ships for the Members of the House of Lords or of the House of Commons, or of any of the large public bodies were in contemplation for the occasion to which the Question referred. Every facility would, however, be given to Members of either House of Parliament who desired to be present at it to witness the review.

MR. MITCHELL HENRY

asked on what day the review would be held?

MR. GOSCHEN

said, there would be an inspection of ships by the Shah on the 23rd instant, and the assemblage of vessels would remain at Portsmouth a certain number of days, in order that the public who might be desirous of witnessing the interesting spectacle might have an opportunity of doing so.

MR. YORKE

Will no vessels be available for Members of the Houses of Parliament except those for the service of the public generally?

MR. GOSCHEN

said, he had not said so; but on the contrary, if he knew that a large number of the Members of the Houses of Parliament were anxious to see the review, they would do their best to afford them every possible facility. But the Government did not contemplate any arrangements on the scale of those which were made on the occasion of the Sultan's visit to Portsmouth, when special trains, the splendid vessels belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental Company, and other ships, were engaged by the Government for the day, and 2,500 tickets distributed.

SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONE

said, he hoped that, as the expense of entertaining Members of the Legislature on the 23rd, would seem to be thrown by the Government on the officers of the ships, no hon. Member of that House would think it right to avail himself of their hospitality.

MR. GOSCHEN

said, that would not be the effect of the arrangements they would make.