§ MR. KINNAIRDsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of the Admiralty what steps the Board of Admiralty have taken, or are about to take, to carry out the recommendations contained in the Report of the Committee of Inquiry on the Economy of Her Majesty's Dock-yards, presided over by Admiral Smart, and in the Report of the Committee on Steam Machinery, presided over by Admiral Ramsay?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, the Admiralty had under their serious consideration the Report of the two Committees to which the hon. Member referred. They had been able to carry out various recommendations, but with regard to one of the most important they had thought it right to call for the opinions of the principal officers of Somerset House, as well as the superintendents of the dockyards. The observations of those officers he hoped to be able to lay on the table the next day. The Duke of Somerset had given the greatest consideration to the recommendations of the Committees, and had drawn up a memorandum, which had been laid before the Board of Admiralty. He also hoped to lay that paper, with a board minute attached, on the table at the same time. The Committee on the dockyards recommended that there should be laid before Parliament statements of the annual cost of all ships of Her Majesty's navy. He hoped to be able to lay on the table that return, which he thought was of some interest, in a few days. But he was bound to state with candour that the return was 614 not so perfect as he should wish it to be. It was, however, a novelty, and the details of the expenditure upon the different ships had not perhaps been kept in as satisfactory a manner as they ought to have been. When the hon. Member for Newcastle brought forward his Motion for inquiry into the shipbuilding of the Admiralty, he should be able to go more fully into the subject.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONasked, whether the references to the officers at Somerset House, and the memorandum of the Duke of Somerset, related to the Reports of both the Committees?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, that the observations of the officers of Somerset House referred to the Report of the Dockyards Committee only, but the memorandum of the Duke of Somerset related principally to the Report of the Dockyard Committee, but had also reference to that of the Committee on Steam Machinery.