§ MR. THOMSON HANKEYsaid, in the absence of his hon. Friend (Mr. Crawford), he would beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether any steps have been taken towards granting the privilege of bearing the "Blue Ensign" to Merchant Vessels commanded and partly manned by Officers and Men of the Royal Naval Reserve?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGET, in reply, said, he had the pleasure to state, that Her Majesty had sanctioned the granting of the Blue Ensign to ships commanded and partly manned by men belonging to the Royal Naval Reserve, and that henceforth the White Ensign would be the ensign of Her Majesty's fleet. The Blue would be the ensign of ships of the Royal Naval Reserve, and the Red the ensign for the Merchant Service.
MR. CORRYsaid, he wished to know whether the flag list was to be no longer divided into the three squadrons of Red, White, and Blue?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, the three distinctive flags were done away with, and there would be now only Rear Admirals, Vice Admirals, and Admirals.