§ MR. JAMES MACLEAN (Oldham)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a circular letter has been sent to the representatives of the Press by Mr. Evan Macgregor, Secretary td the Admiralty, informing them that H.M.S. Seahorse, having been set apart for the convey- 1261 ance of newspaper correspondents to view the fleet and witness the naval inspection, they are at liberty to embark in the Seahorse, on Friday, 2nd August, and again on Saturday 3rd August; that ladies will not he admitted on board; and that correspondents must make their own arrangements with regard to refreshments; whether it has been customary on such occasions to invite newspaper correspondents as guests, in the same way in which Members of the Houses of Lords and Commons are invited; whether he can state the reasons for the different arrangement that has now been made; and, whether, as the correspondents must be on board by 9.30 a.m. and may be unable to communicate with the shore till late in the evening, the Admiralty will at least engage a contractor to have refreshments on sale in the Seahorse during the day?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONI am cognizant of the general arrangements for the Naval Review; but as the special accommodation provided for the Press is under the control of the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, I am sure that he will be glad to consider any change, within limits, which will meet their convenience. At the Jubilee Review accommodation and refreshments were provided for about 7,000 persons, including the Press, at the public expense. The occasion was a very exceptional one, and must not be regarded as a precedent applicable to inspections made of the ships annually mobilized for manœuvres.
§ MR. J. MACLEANDoes not the noble Lord regard this as an exceptional occasion—the inspection of the largest fleet assembled in British waters in recent years, and is there any reason why the course adopted on the occasion of the Jubilee Review should not be followed now?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONI hope that mobilization is not an unusual event; and I hope that next year there will be a bigger Review. It is inadvisable that the Admiralty should be regarded as being responsible for providing accommodation for those perfectly well able to provide for themselves. If the hon. Member regards what was done on the occasion of the Jubilee Review as a precedent, I beg to state I do not regard it from that point of view.
§ MR. HAMILTON (Southwark, Rotherhithe)May I ask what arrangements have been made for special trains to and from Portsmouth on the occasion of the Naval Review?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONThe responsibility of the Admiralty so far as concerns the accommodation of Members of the House for the 3rd of August begins and ends with the ships which will be in readiness in the dockyards to convey them to Spithead. The Railway Companies have undertaken to run special trains both to and from Portsmouth. Particulars relating to such trains will be found on the back of the tickets giving admission to the troopships appropriated to the service of the Legislature.