§ MR. ARTHUR ARNOLDasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the public will not be charged £40, in the usual manner, for the conveyance of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh from Boulogne to Folkestone on the 18th in the "Albert Victor;" and, whether, in view of the consequent neglect by Railway Companies of the comfort and safety of the public, he will consider whether this system of payment for special packets for the conveyance of distinguished persons should be more cautiously adopted?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHSir, the orders for special packets for distinguished persons are given by the Admiralty; but I have no reason to doubt that the usual payment will be made in the case referred to by my hon. Friend. The system now in force was adopted some years ago as a more convenient one than that of providing a ship of the Royal Navy; and, as far as I am aware, no complaints have arisen with respect to it until the late unfortunate mishap. I will communicate with the Board of Trade and Admiralty as to the necessity for making any alteration in its details for the protection of the public.