§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he will be good enough to inform the House as to the nature, extent, and probable cost of the overhaul now being applied to the yacht Victoria and Albert; whether it is for the purpose of conveying Her Majesty the Queen to Cherbourg; and, whether the various branches of the crew and engine room are being utilized in the "re-fit," or only Dockyard hands.
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)The principal items connected with the overhaul of the Victoria and Albert are docking and examination of under-water fittings and the making good of defects in hull, engines, and boilers, at a probable cost of £1,700. These repairs are required for the maintenance of the vessel in an efficient state. It is the rule of the Service that the crews should assist the Dockyard, as far as possible, in carrying out the work on their ships, 556 and this is now done to the fullest extent possible.