§ MR. WALSHasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any space will be set aside in Windsor Park, on the occasion of the Review before the Shah of Persia, for the carriages of such Members of both Houses of Parliament as may wish to witness the Review?
§ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHERasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any arrangements will be made for giving opportunity to the Members of both Houses of Parliament to attend the proposed review of troops in Windsor Great Park, on the 24th instant?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, I must premise by saying that the arrangements in Windsor Park are not under my direction; but I have informed myself upon the subject in order to be able to answer these Questions. Arrangements 998 have been made to enable Members of this House to witness the Review, and His Royal Highness Prince Christian, the Ranger of Windsor Park, has sent to Mr. Speaker 500 tickets for the Stand and 50 for carriages within the enclosure.
§ SIR PATRICK O'BRIENasked the First Lord of the Treasury, What facilities it is intended by Her Majesty's Government to afford to Members of the House and their families who wish to be present at the Naval and Military Reviews about to take place in honour of the Shah of Persia?
§ MR. GOSCHENsaid, that he had been requested by the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury to answer in regard to the proposed arrangements. In order to prevent disappointment, he must repeat that the gathering of ships at Portsmouth would not be a Review. There would be no evolutions, but simply a gathering of ships. On the occasion of the visit of the Sultan, arrangements were made for a formal Review; but the weather being unfavourable it ended in a simple inspection. There would now be two naval inspections—one at Dover, where a large squadron—in fact, two squadrons—would meet the Shah, and an inspection at Portsmouth, which would not have the same interest as if there were evolutions. With regard to the attendance of hon. Members at Portsmouth, the Government had found themselves in a position of some difficulty. According to the precedent of the Sultan's visit, they would have issued about 3,500 tickets, would have hired special trains, and provided at Portsmouth an entertainment, of the cost of which he could give some notion when he said that in the case of one ship, which accommodated 300 visitors, a bill was sent in for £450. If the same general issue of tickets had been repeated on the present occasion, it would not have cost less than £8,000 or £9,000, including the chartering of steamers. Finding it would be inexpedient to distribute tickets broadcast, it had been resolved to gratify the natural wish of hon. Members of the Houses of Parliament to be present in a way which was most compatible with the public interest. There would be no special trains provided, and instead of chartering a steamer, the Government proposed to appropriate to the service two steamers already at their disposal, and such 999 arrangements would be made as would prevent hon. Members being under the necessity of having recourse to the hospitality of Naval Officers. He purposed placing himself in communication with Mr. Speaker as to the best mode of ascertaining the wishes of those who might wish to be present.
§ In reply to Viscount GALWAY,
§ MR. CARDWELL,said, tickets had been sent to Mr. Speaker for Members and their friends.