§ MR. ANDERSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, since the discussion on the "Mistletoe" disaster, the Admiralty have had any communication with Captain Welch with reference to the discrepancy between his letter, saying that he had requested a court martial, and the statement of the First Lord that no such request had been made or it would have been granted; and, whether he can now explain that discrepancy, and if he is willing still to grant such court martial if requested by Captain Welch?
§ MR. HUNTI have to state, in answer to the hon. Gentleman's Question, that no communications have passed between the Admiralty and Captain Welch since the period to which he refers. I can only repeat now what I have stated before—that no application for a court martial has been received by the Admiralty from Captain Welch. With respect to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's Question, the matter stands on a wholly different footing after the length of time that has elapsed since the unfortunate occurrence; and I am not prepared to say what would be the result of an application that has not yet been made.