§ MR. MOOREasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, What steps have been taken to carry out the Minute of 7th June 1878 in the Squadrons at Alexandria and Port Said; and, whether, in the event of ships being used for hospital purposes, he will take care that the sick and dying soldiers and sailors of the Roman Catholic Church are not left without consolation of religion?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSir, I have been in communication with Dr. Virtue, Bishop of Portsmouth, and with my hon. Friend himself, on this subject. The result is, that as there is some doubt whether there is, especially on the Suez Canal, an adequate provision of Catholic clerymen for the seamen of the Fleet, the Admiralty have arranged with the War Office to send out an additional priest above the number to be sent for the Army—and the services of this additional priest will be available for the Fleet.