§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)I beg to ask the First Lord of 794 the Admiralty when the Report of the proceedings at the inquiry into the circumstances attending the loss of the Sultan will be laid upon the Table?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONThe Report of the inquiry held into the circumstances of the loss of the Sultan has been published in extenso in the daily Press. I did not make this Report a Parliamentary Paper, as such a course would invite this House to review the decision of Courts of Inquiry.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONWill the noble Lord allow me to remind him that some time ago, in answer to a question, he promised to lay the Report on the Table?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONNo, I did not say that; I said I would take the matter into consideration. My reason for objecting to make the Report a Parliamentary Paper is that it would be practically an invitation to this House to review the decisions of a Court of Inquiry.
§ MR. E ROBERTSONIs there any reason why this House should not review the findings of a Court of Inquiry?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONYes, Sir; I think there is every reason.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONIn consequence of the answer I have received from the First Lord of the Admiralty, I wish to justify myself in putting the question on the Paper in its present form.
§ * MR. SPEAKERNo justification is required.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONIn consequence of the answer which I received, which I regard as an evasive answer, I beg to give notice that I shall take every opportunity of bringing the circumstances of this inquiry under the notice of the House.