HC Deb 09 August 1889 vol 339 cc907-8
MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether, since the full Minutes of the Proceedings at the inquiry into the loss of the Captain, in 1870, and of the proceedings at the inquiry into the loss of the Vanguard, in 1876, were laid before Parliament, he would explain in what respect, if any, the inquiry into the loss of the Sultan differed in character and purpose from these inquiries?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Lord G. HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)

In the case of the loss of the Captain and the Vanguard the only inquiry held was under Court Martial. In the case of the Sultan an investigation both by Court Martial and by a Court of Inquiry was held. I am not aware that the proceedings of any naval Court of Inquiry have ever been laid before Parliament. In the present instance the proceedings, both of the Court Martial and of the Court of Inquiry, have been published in extenso through the daily Press, but I must decline to make the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry a Parliamentary Paper.

MR. E. ROBERTSON

Has there been an Admiralty Minute prepared as to this inquiry, and, if so, will it be laid before the House?

LORD G. HAMILTON

No, Sir. If the hon. Gentleman will look into the circumstances of the Vanguard inquiry, he will see that that inquiry bears no analogy to the inquiry into the loss of the Sultan, consequently no Minute will be prepared.

MR. HANDEL COSSHAM (Bristol, E.)

When one of Her Majesty's ships is lost, is it not right that all information concerning such loss should be given to the House of Commons?

LORD G. HAMILTON

Any hon. Member desiring to have full information can obtain it by consulting the published reports of the proceedings.

MR. E. ROBERTSON

I beg to give notice that I will call attention to this subject on the Appropriation Bill.