§ COLONEL COLTHURSTasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether any provision has been made for the spiritual need of Her Majesty's Roman Catholic Sailors and Marines now serving in Egypt?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSir, the rule laid down and the practice followed by the Admiralty in regard to the subject of my hon. and gallant Friend's Question are expressed in a Minute of June 7, 1878, a copy of which was laid before Parliament. The Minute runs thus—
My Lords direct that when a large number of ships forming a Squadron are sent on any service that would keep them for a considerable time away from a port where the services of a Roman Catholic priest would he available, arrangements are to be made for one to accompany the Squadron.In accordance with this Minute, we inquired a day or two ago of Sir Beau-champ Seymour whether there are at present any Roman Catholic clergymen available for the seamen and Marines at Alexandria or Port Said, and we have received a telegram from him saying 1970 that Roman Catholic priests are available.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked whether there would be an English Catholic priest stationed at Aden? He understood that the present chaplain was hardly able to speak English at all.
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe hon. Member had better give Notice of that Question.