§ MR. CALLANasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the lately 1261 issued order of the Admiralty permitting commanding officers' wives to reside on board harbour ships extends to the female relatives of the commanding officers, or those of their wives, and whether he will have any objection to lay upon the Table of the House a Return of the names and position of ladies who have resided on board harbour ships, especially those stationed at Portsmouth during the last six months; and, whether it is a fact that the sub-officers of Her Majesty's ships strongly object to the introduction of women on board ship as residents, on the ground that the best portions of the ship are appropriated to their use, and that their presence materially interferes with the regular discipline and harmonious working of the ship?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIn 1878 an order was given that the wives of commanders of training ships for boys might live on board, and in 1879 this was extended to the captains of the flagships at Portsmouth and Devonport, it being considered necessary, for the proper discharge of their duties, that these officers should be almost constantly on board their ships. Of course, this permission included any ladies who would have lived in their houses had they resided on shore. The Admiralty have no reason to believe that this rule has been misused, nor have any reports or complaints of the kind referred to by the hon. Member been received.